Maya McFadden Photo
5th grade students spread native wildflower seeds along the hillside.
Second through fifth-grade students from East Rock Community and Cultural Studies Magnet School got their hands dirty Thursday while expanding the school’s garden into something bigger with Common Ground’s CT Schoolyards Program.
“This is hard but it’s fun,” one second-grader said while filling in what will be the kindness rock garden area with soil.
The CT Schoolyards Program is a Common Ground based organization that currently has 22 partner schools and has constructed schoolyard habitats in 14 schools, in partnership with Audubon CT, US Fish & Wildlife, and the Yale Peabody. East Rock is one of its longest-standing partner schools. The program works with the schools to develop native planting plans and outdoor learning spaces while also offering trainings and lessons on environmental restoration efforts.
Audubon CT, a 1943 state conservation and environmental education organization, provided a mini-grant to East Rock to purchase native plants and native wildflower seeds that the students sowed on Thursday.
Erika Koch, a fourth-grade teacher at East Rock, worked closely with the CT Schoolyards Program to learn more on how to integrate the outdoor learning space into the school’s curriculum.
“It’s like social justice but in a cloaked way,” said Suzannah Holsenbeck, CT Schoolyards Program manager.
Some of the students started off reluctant to get dirty in fear of bugs. CT Schoolyards Program Coordinator, Kendra Dawsey told them about the importance of earthworms and lawn grubs.
The outdoor project will also include a new Outdoor Maker Space with hopes to further engage the students. The goal to install the space has been rescheduled to the fall.
The students planted native shrubs and fruits and vegetables in the garden. Peppers, green and red cabbage, eggplant, chives, cantaloupe, and watermelon were just a few of the foods planted.
“You can tell the health of the school by the health of the garden,” said Holsenbeck.
Holsenbeck said that about 60 percent of teachers from the CT Schoolyards Program partner schools have reported bringing their students outside for something other than recess since working with the program.
2nd grade students fill in the kindness rock garden area with soil then later mulch.
“Can you guys stay until my mom picks me up so she can see how to build one of these gardens at home?” asked a fourth grader from Angela Maiocco’s class.
Recently this year, a total of seven trees were planted in the schoolyard by the Urban Resources Initiative (URI) to continue their work to restore native habitats for birds and other pollinators.
“We have the expectation that teachers will work it into their units so students aren’t left thinking this work was just a one-time thing,” said Dawsey.
Thursday’s project is a part of an effort to allow students, particularly those who are students of color and/or with disabilities, find a place in the community and feel helpful, said Holsenbeck, a former high school teacher and administrator.
East Rock’s student population is 44 percent Hispanic, 35 percent African American, 6 percent Asian, and 1 percent American Indian, according to a parent-teacher organization’s grant application for a $5,000 Lowe’s grant that helped fund the program.
Holsenbeck and Dawsey said that through their work they have often seen many students who struggle in traditional in-class learning atmospheres show the most enthusiasm and interest for the outdoor STEM learning experience.
