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E.L.DeGolyerElementary School dedicated its organic learning garden, built by the school’s 375 students with help from teachers, parents, and volunteers from Esurance's Dallas office.
The project was assisted with a GreenWorks! grant from Project Learning Tree, the national environmental education program of the American Forest Foundation, and Esurance, the direct-to-consumer personal auto insurance company.
The April 18 dedication was attended by DeGolyer students, teachers, Principal Alecia Cobb, PTA and Dads Club officers, and guests from Esurance and the Texas Forestry Association.
“This garden has already given us so much,” said DeGolyer 5th grade science teacher Nancy Hughes. “The children learn about the benefits of organic gardening, how to take care of plants, the basics of plant biology, the miracle of photosynthesis, and so many other things they’ll take with them for a lifetime.
“They may think they’re just playing in dirt on a pretty day, but sometimes the best learning is disguised as play,” she said.
Esurance representative Marie Gelinas says Esurance is “interested in supporting DeGolyer's efforts to make students aware of the balance and reuse of natural materials.”
“We plan to develop long-term relationships with our staff and your students as they work together to maintain this beautiful garden,” she said.
Cheryl Stanco, Education Director for the Texas Forestry Association and Project Learning Tree Coordinator, also attended the dedication and will be coordinating with DeGolyer teachers to provide training upon their return to school in August 2008.
The garden, which was built by organic gardener and DeGolyer dad Danny Hurley and is maintained by the DeGolyer Dads Club, includes a section for each grade level. Those students tend to the plants on a regular basis. When the plants flower and grow vegetables, the students and teachers share in the bounty.
“You wouldn’t think kids would get so excited about okra,” said Ms. Hughes. “But when they’ve had a hand in growing it, you’d be surprised at how anxious they are to try it.”
The grant request was written by DeGolyer teacher Cheryl Covington-McKnight.
Amy Hunt is DeGolyer PTA President
