Schools

Worrall Gets Dirty For New Reading Garden

Worrall Elementary School teachers, staff, parents and students came out on Aug. 16 to lend hands in installing Worrall's new reading garden, funded by a $5,000 grant from Lowe's.

BROOMALL–On a hot and humid summer morning, about 30 teachers, staff and parents showed up to ready to get dirty and sweaty for the goal of installing their new reading garden.

On Tuesday around 8:30 a.m., Worrall volunteers were split up into various groups to help their green initiative vision come to reality. From running to Lowe's and Home Depot to purchase plants, soil and mulch to road tilling and assembling three picnic tables–made entirely out of recylced materials–that will be placed in the reading garden, no one wasted any time.

"This is what's so amazing about the Worrall community–you have people here who want to be here, not getting paid, to help make this happen," said Laryssa Dragonetti, a music teacher at Worrall. "They're really just so special. The community effort here is amazing."

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The reading garden was made possible with the help of a . Dragonetti, who submitted the application last September and received word that the school received the grant in January of this year, said that although it was a long process, it was "well worth it."

Worrall Principal John Trezise also shared the same sentiments and believed the garden would not have been able to come to fruition without the help of everyone involved.

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"It was a genuine collaborative process," said Trezise. "It feels exhilirating to see a vision come together. It's a good feeling of collaborative accomplishment."

According to Trezise, the reading garden has replaced the spot of a previous "eyesore," an old, rusty trailer that was removed by the district several months ago.

"I think the kids are going to love it. It's not going to be an eyesore anymore," said Leighann Coarey, a parent of two students at Worrall, who decided to come out and help with the garden installation.

In addition, about five members of Girl Scout Troop 57087 also came out to volunteer, and weren't afraid to get dirty in the planting and soiling.

Linda Peoples, who recently retired after 25 years of teaching at Worrall, helped lead the school's Green Team in establishing ideas for green initiatives for the school such as the reading garden.

The school has dedicated a part of the garden, known as Peoples' Patch, planted with flowers and plants to Peoples for her years of service.

"It's really overwhelming," said Peoples about the dedication. "I love this school. I would definitely come back."

Another dedication was made for Kathy Northwood, an office asistant who passed away on May 1, 2010.

As a parent, Renee O'Donnell, co-president of Worrall's Parent Teacher Organization, believes children will not only be able to enjoy the garden but also stimulate another type of learning experience.

"I think the idea of it [the reading garden] adds to the learning experience," said O'Donnell. "It will engage them in different ways. I'm excited that our kids will be able to experience this."

But it's not just the students that may be able to experience the classroom, teachers were also excited to make use of the new outdoor reading garden.

"It's great because we've never had this before," said fifth-grade teaher Linda Rosenberg, who has been teaching at Worrall since 1987. "It give us another classroom and sometimes a change of scenery is what you need."

According to Dragonetti, the reading garden will be an ongoing process with new additions that will be continually added, including a sensory stimulation area for students with special needs.


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