 Cline Elementary’s new Helping Hands Garden was a grant proposal for an outdoor learning center at the campus. In the garden, five teachers planned to have the children learn about and watch the cycle of life in butterflies and frogs, see composting in action and watch and tend the earth cycle of plants.
The grant committee agreed it was a good idea and funded the project $4500 to start the project. The title of the grant was “No Child Left Inside.”
As the garden began to be built, an additional $4500 was raised in supplies and in kind services. The ribbon cutting was April 2.
Foundation directors were on hand to congratulate Cline and share the excitement with the kindergarten through third grade campus.
“I remember this grant and at the time I was so very impressed with the idea. It will impact all students on campus each year it is used. What a great grant to fund!” Foundation President Michael Wegner said. Wegner was joined by directors Chris Sellers, Joseph Ditta and Lesley DiBello for the ribbon cutting and program.
Children sang under the direction of Glynis David and Cline art teacher Dura Dittmar was thanked for the canvas life cycle she painted to hang outside in the garden.
Sponsors for the garden also were recognized and honored. They include Jeff Burke and Budget Landscaping, Bradshaw Nursery, Boy Scout Troop #445, the Home Depot, Falcon Imports, and Joseph’s Nursery.
Classes were introduced to the new garden where planting immediately began by each of the Cline classes. An area for environmental art was put into use and children took tours of the new shed built by a Boy Scout attending the ceremonies. All tools and supplies will be stored there.
“We are so proud of our garden. The children named it and it is already in use in its first day. The hardest part was selecting the location. Once that was done, everything seemed to fall into place,” Cline Principal Debbie Smith said.
A video of the events on the day of ribbon cutting will be on TV Channel 16 soon as well as accessible through FISDtv on the website. |
