Clara Barton kids welcome spring with new flower beds
By:Vanessa S. Holt
BORDENTOWN CITY In less than an hour, fifth- and sixth-graders at Clara Barton Elementary School transformed empty flower beds into a radiant bouquet of spring flowers last week with help from several teachers and high school students.
Marigolds stood out like tiny yellow suns on the misty gray morning as students weeded, mulched and planted the flower beds behind the school.
The youngsters took a break from their usual spring sports last week to work on a school beautification project in honor of Earth Day, April 22, and Arbor Day, which was held April 26 this year.
Children from kindergarten through sixth grade developed green thumbs during their physical education classes last week, with the youngest students decorating and painting clay flower pots and older students working on landscaping projects around the school.
They were assisted by high school students in the Responsible Citizenship class at Bordentown Regional High School.
Two companies contracted to work on the light rail transit system that will run through Bordentown, the Bechtel Corp. and Conti Enterprises, donated $500 for supplies and equipment for the project. Local nurseries, including Robeson’s Greenhouse in Wrightstown and Rappleyea’s Nurseries in Chesterfield, donated plants and other supplies.
"It’s a lot of fun," said Robyn Wetzel, a senior at Bordentown Regional High School, who was busy shoveling old mulch and laying down topsoil on one of the large planters in back of the school.
"We took a look to see what needed improvement," said high school senior Kaitlyn Martin, who helped to coordinate the program between the elementary school and high school. "We decided to work on beautification around the school."
While they were busy with the beautification project, students were getting a workout as well, said physical education teacher Barbara Boucher.
She said she has been teaching students that they can stay fit throughout their lives with activities like gardening and housework as part of their fitness routine.
"Physical fitness isn’t just sports," said Ms. Boucher. "You can improve your heart rate by gardening."
The kids converged on each of the flower beds with fresh mulch and flowers to form colorful patterns with yellow, orange and red flowers.
Some students already enjoy working outdoors.
"I like to work in the garden at home," said Vicki Huber, 10, a fifth-grade student.
She explained that mulch was made up of bits of old wood and is spread around the flowers after they are planted.
Bruce Colvin, an environmental manager with the Bechtel Corp., which manages construction on the light rail site, said he believes it is important for young people to learn about how environmental issues affect them personally.
"They are learning the importance of stewardship," he said. "Natural resources belong to everyone."
In addition to the work on the planter boxes out back, new plantings were done along the sides of the building, under the library windows and around the school sign in front of the building.
Fifth-grade teacher Jerry Schwartz said his class has been discussing Earth Day and environmental issues in recent weeks.
"We touched upon their responsibility towards the earth and their community," he said. "They’re learning to work together and cooperate. I hope it is a learning experience."