Jefferson Elementary School
Submitted by Ellen McGrath-Thorpe, President
On September 12, 2008, I brought our check for $150 to Dr. Carol Van Vooren, Principal of the Jefferson Elementary School. I provided them with a basket of hardened succulents collected from Karen Christie, a resident of Rancho Carlsbad. I also gave them Sergio’s business card from Plant Play Nursery who had been apprized that they might need some help. Since I talked to Carol in the Spring, they used more of their government grant ($2000 to every school in CA to use on a garden) in building potting benches and increased irrigation. The plan, formulated by a parent volunteer, is to grow plants from seed. One half of the Garden is rather open and in need of weeding which is the “property” of the fourth graders. Once it is looking good, they bring the younger students who are than taught by the 4th Graders. The raised beds are assigned to the younger students. Curriculum has been developed for all students to coordinate with the Garden. They have a Garden Club who water etc. during their recess and lunch periods.
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This is the garden at Jefferson Street Elementary at the intersection of Jefferson and Tamarack. The raised bed part of the garden is used for the younger children. The fourth graders maintain the unstructured half of the garden depending on the year’s plans. They will conduct “classes” for the younger children. A previous Principal here (now at Poinsettia) was very interested in vermiculture, but that feature ended when the very involved parent’s child graduated. They also have a very interested parent who built potting benches since she wants to emphasize growing plants from seeds. I also gave them succulents (given to me by a neighbor here in Rancho Carlsbad…thank you Karen) which will be used between the beds and in the fourth grade section.
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Calavera Hills Elementary School
Submitted by Ellen McGrath-Thorpe, President
On September 12, 2008, I also brought another check for $150 to the Calavera Hills Elementary Schools. My contact there was Robin, an Administrative Assistant who originally asked us to be partners in working with their garden. Their garden is basically nonexistent because of a lack of irrigation. Their plan is to remedy that probably over the Winter Holiday, and then to re-contact us before they plant this. Something to think about as a project!
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In contrast, the garden at the Calavera Hills Elementary is at the very beginning. Since there is no irrigation anywhere near the garden all previous efforts have failed. The plan is to put in an irrigation system over the Christmas Holidays. Once that is done, Robin, the Administrative Assistant will be in touch with me. This is the school that responded to our original offer by asking us “to partner with them in creating a garden”. I didn’t realize how serious this request was…something to think about! If nothing else, I’ll be bringing them succulent cuttings.
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Hope Elementary School
Submitted by Ellen McGrath-Thorpe, President
I wanted you to see how our grant money has been received here at Hope Elementary School on Tamarack Ave. The ladies on either end are parent volunteers who I have been “talking” to since the spring. The man is their Principal. As you can see they have raised beds, with the one on the far left is a butterfly garden. The arch has a vine which has already attracted some caterpillars much to the children’s delight. I brought succulent cuttings for them which will be used in 1 bed where they will place a replica of Mission San Luis Rey, while in other beds; they are placed for based on texture or ones with funny names or shapes. While we were there, children kept popping to see different aspects of the garden, and were quite disappointed when sent away. I will be keeping in touch with these ladies and we’ve been invited to come visit while the students are out there for a lesson.
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| Poinsettia Elementary School
Submitted by Ellen McGrath-Thorpe, President
Click here to read press release and learn more about our relationship with this school.
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