LATHROP — Lathrop Elementary school teacher Sheila Sandoli wrote a garden grant last school year for $5,000.
With the closure of the annex, it was decided to use the funding to create a Native Butterfly Garden at the main site. On Friday, students from Sandoli’s 4th grade class along with David Silveira, principal, and Karen Olsen, the new vice principal, went out and planted more than 50 California native plants. The garden’s planting bed design depicts the life cycle of a butterfly from the egg, caterpillar, chrysalis, and finally to the butterfly. Later, when additional funding is available, labels will be made for each native plant.
The walls around the area outside the Pre-1st grade classrooms, are in progress as the area is being transformed into a complete outdoor educational site. The life cycle on the wall will be labeled for primary readability about each stage of development. Students in kindergarten will have an opportunity to use their handprints on the walls of the halls to create a flowering path.
Lathrop Elementary also received a $10,000 grant from PG&E to increase their “Green” efforts in conservation and education. Students in Jr. High will assist in the planning and removal of water-thirsty lawn areas to replace them with again, California native landscapes.
Also, thanks to another generous contributor, Mrs. Hopper’s K-3 class was able to plant and care for plantings outside the cafeteria. The plan is to use the planters as a sensing garden based on the 5 senses.
One goal for the school is to promote a school-wide learning environment both inside the classroom and outside. Three years ago, Home Depot helped the site develop a citrus orchard. The more volunteers and support, the more the site can do for their students and community.
With the closure of the annex, it was decided to use the funding to create a Native Butterfly Garden at the main site. On Friday, students from Sandoli’s 4th grade class along with David Silveira, principal, and Karen Olsen, the new vice principal, went out and planted more than 50 California native plants. The garden’s planting bed design depicts the life cycle of a butterfly from the egg, caterpillar, chrysalis, and finally to the butterfly. Later, when additional funding is available, labels will be made for each native plant.
The walls around the area outside the Pre-1st grade classrooms, are in progress as the area is being transformed into a complete outdoor educational site. The life cycle on the wall will be labeled for primary readability about each stage of development. Students in kindergarten will have an opportunity to use their handprints on the walls of the halls to create a flowering path.
Lathrop Elementary also received a $10,000 grant from PG&E to increase their “Green” efforts in conservation and education. Students in Jr. High will assist in the planning and removal of water-thirsty lawn areas to replace them with again, California native landscapes.
Also, thanks to another generous contributor, Mrs. Hopper’s K-3 class was able to plant and care for plantings outside the cafeteria. The plan is to use the planters as a sensing garden based on the 5 senses.
One goal for the school is to promote a school-wide learning environment both inside the classroom and outside. Three years ago, Home Depot helped the site develop a citrus orchard. The more volunteers and support, the more the site can do for their students and community.
