Kaler Elementary students show off green thumbs (June 6, 2008)
By Nate Jones
Staff Writer
Last month nearly all of the 218 students at the James Otis Kaler Elementary
School in South Portland joined forces for the second “Greening Day” event.
Kindergarteners and fifth graders worked side by side 12 United Way volunteers planting vegetables and flowers, trimming other existing plants, touching up an existing stone pathway and finally watering everything down in the small, but very green play area beside the school.
“We just really want to get the schoolyard greener,” Greening chairman and parent Angela Emery said.
Three years ago the Greening committee was formed to encourage the development of what Emery called “a big, bare field.”
“We decided, as parents, it needed more,” she said.
After receiving a $1,000 grant from Portland Trails in 2005, the first “Greening” project took place in 2006 – an entire weekend full of green activities. Emery said students planted trees, constructed wooden plant boxes and installed a granite stone pathway that kindergarteners now make a point to hop along while traveling to the playground behind the school.
“We’re really looking to add natural playscapes, Emery said.
“Greening Day” is about more than getting your hands dirty, however.
“We’re teaching kids about gardening during the school day, encouraging them to be active gardeners,” Emery said.
Although the committee received another $1,000 grant from Portland trails last year, “Greening Day” was delayed since Emery was unable to lead the charge after having surgery.
“Our committee also found it hard to get parent volunteers on the weekends,” she said.
This year’s one-day event was hosted during the school day and nearly 20 parent volunteers showed up to lend a hand. Thanks to funds leftover from the two grants and donations from local businesses including Lowe’s, Skillin’s Greenhouses and Broadway Gardens, this year’s event needed little fundraising.
In addition to planting vegetables and flowers in the already existing boxes, volunteers constructed a 20-by-20-foot pergola where before there was only dirt.
“That structure wasn’t there this morning,” Principal Diane Lang said. “It’s amazing what you can get done in a day.”
Next year, Emery said the group plans to plant several evergreen trees both to hide the oil tanks directly behind the playground and provide shade for students.
Staff Writer
Last month nearly all of the 218 students at the James Otis Kaler Elementary
School in South Portland joined forces for the second “Greening Day” event.
Kindergarteners and fifth graders worked side by side 12 United Way volunteers planting vegetables and flowers, trimming other existing plants, touching up an existing stone pathway and finally watering everything down in the small, but very green play area beside the school.
“We just really want to get the schoolyard greener,” Greening chairman and parent Angela Emery said.
Three years ago the Greening committee was formed to encourage the development of what Emery called “a big, bare field.”
“We decided, as parents, it needed more,” she said.
After receiving a $1,000 grant from Portland Trails in 2005, the first “Greening” project took place in 2006 – an entire weekend full of green activities. Emery said students planted trees, constructed wooden plant boxes and installed a granite stone pathway that kindergarteners now make a point to hop along while traveling to the playground behind the school.
“We’re really looking to add natural playscapes, Emery said.
“Greening Day” is about more than getting your hands dirty, however.
“We’re teaching kids about gardening during the school day, encouraging them to be active gardeners,” Emery said.
Although the committee received another $1,000 grant from Portland trails last year, “Greening Day” was delayed since Emery was unable to lead the charge after having surgery.
“Our committee also found it hard to get parent volunteers on the weekends,” she said.
This year’s one-day event was hosted during the school day and nearly 20 parent volunteers showed up to lend a hand. Thanks to funds leftover from the two grants and donations from local businesses including Lowe’s, Skillin’s Greenhouses and Broadway Gardens, this year’s event needed little fundraising.
In addition to planting vegetables and flowers in the already existing boxes, volunteers constructed a 20-by-20-foot pergola where before there was only dirt.
“That structure wasn’t there this morning,” Principal Diane Lang said. “It’s amazing what you can get done in a day.”
Next year, Emery said the group plans to plant several evergreen trees both to hide the oil tanks directly behind the playground and provide shade for students.
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