Growing Together
Thanks to a grant from Umpqua Health Alliance, Tri City Elementary School will soon bloom with a new Discovery Garden.
Students are the inspiration. “Academics, behavior and enjoyment in coming to school can all be addressed in having a garden,” said Behavior Attendance Monitor, Mary Pettibone who is credited with championing the idea and writing the grant. “The inspiration for this project came from talking with students about what their interests are. I would like to thank Principal Veale, as she was very much on board with the idea.”
The Discovery Garden will be known as a sensory garden to engage the five senses: sight, smell, sound, touch and taste.
Kat Cooper, Community Engagement Coordinator for Umpqua Health Alliance joins Tri City Elementary Principal Emily Veale and Behavior Attendance Monitor, Mary Pettibone at the site of the future Discovery Garden, located at the school.
Students will learn responsibility and caring by showing how to be responsible and taking care of something. They will learn how to work as a team to help the garden grow.
The garden will also be an outdoor learning classroom that will include a variety of plants such as vegetables and herbs, a root viewer, and a worm home. The goal is to also purchase a greenhouse so students can grow plants throughout the year.
Cow Creek Band of Umpqua Tribe of Indians will be a consult for the garden. Additionally Master Gardeners, Mauro and Gloria Cettina will provide guidance.
“We look forward to partnering with the community to expand on the garden as needed,” said Pettibone. “Community members, parents, staff and students will work together to build a garden that will last for future generations.”
We extend an enormous thanks to our generous supporters and partners for making this learning opportunity possible.
Master Gardeners, Mauro and Gloria Cettina will provide guidance for the garden. Principal Emily Veale and Behavior Attendance Monitor Mary Pettibone are also pictured.