First-grader Rose MacNutt proudly pointed to the flower bed where she had planted sunflower seeds in O'Shea Keleher Whole Child Academy's new garden.
“I planted these!” said McNutt, a member of the academy’s new gardening club.
MacNutt was one of the students from Pre-K through fifth grade who got their hands dirty planting seeds, painting rocks and making sun catchers to celebrate the opening of the school’s garden in April.
The academy’s coordinator, Christina Reveco, said the garden, named “The Garden of Hopes and Dreams,” was an integral part of the school’s whole-child approach, which strongly emphasizes mental health and social-emotional learning to help students develop a healthy outlook on life.
“This is a space that allows students to destress, self-regulate and just enjoy the outdoors,” Reveco said. She also emphasized how gardening would enhance students' cognitive skills and problem-solving abilities, which they could apply in the classroom.
“The garden allows students to have that hands-on experience that they can then translate into the classroom and have those connections,” Reveco added.
The grand opening of the garden on Earth Day, April 22, marked the beginning of a week filled with activities for students, faculty, staff, and the community. Parents donated recycled materials such as plastic bottles, aluminum cans, beads, and old CDs and DVDs. Students used the items to construct wind chimes, twirlers and plant stakes. They also used paper mâché to decorate butterfly suncatchers, which were hung in the greenhouse. Apart from flowers, students also planted lettuce, spinach and zucchini.
Community members proposed names for the garden, and the school’s gardening committee selected the most meaningful name. Reveco said students would take turns maintaining the garden during the school year.
Laura Garcia, the academy’s principal, said allowing students to plant the garden would provide them with the opportunity to see their work come to fruition. She expects the garden to offer them hands-on learning experiences in math, science, and English language arts. Additionally, the garden will provide valuable lessons about social-emotional learning, mental health, and physical health.
“We didn't want to give (students) something finished,” Garcia said. “We wanted them to have the opportunity to plant and then watch those flowers grow, watch those seeds grow, and really learn from the ground up what it means to be a helper to our earth.”
Kindergartener Jacelyn Rodriguez said she enjoyed being outside in the garden, getting her hands dirty and painting rocks with her friends.
“Plants are good because if you want flowers, you can plant flowers,” Rodriguez said. “It’s good for the environment.”
O'Shea Keleher Whole Child Academy's new garden event photos