Lago Vista Elementary School and the Parent Teacher Organization (PTO) formed the Environmental Awareness Committee in 2009. The purpose was to teach the concepts of reducing, reusing and recycling to conserve our resources. During our own Earth Day celebrations in spring 2009, each class planted native trees and plants around the school. The teacher and student interest was so enthusiastic in the area of planting and wildscaping that parents formed a group to resource materials, build garden spaces, collect seeds and plants and involve each grade level in some area around the school. With the support of parents and local businesses, LVES has the beginnings of several projects around the school.
The new group began the fall season by celebrating the inaugural Texas Native Plant Week with the help of local resident and TNPW supporter, Faye Tessnow. Each grade level planted in their designated areas. They were taught the importance of planting native plants to conserve water and to support the wildlife that depend on certain local plants.
Lago Vista Garden Club President Mary Gale Sharp spoke to the fourth and fifth graders about uses of native plants by native Texans and pioneers. Fifth graders designed posters that were hung around Lago Vista announcing TNPW.
They wanted to spend time gardening and helping with our projects but had limited time during the school day.
A group of interested students named the “Green Team” signed up and worked in the morning before class with a parent volunteer to build garden spaces, dig, mulch, haul dirt and plant. Their enthusiasm and energy is inspiring and does not waver on the cold mornings.
As a fundraiser for their promotion activities, the Green Team is propagating succulents and decorating pots to plant them in and sell. The group has also adopted the courtyard in their end of the building and are planting herb beds. Non-native vines have been removed and will be replaced with flowering bulbs and native plants.
For about 10 years, the Lago Vista Garden Club members have met monthly with LVES fourth graders to teach gardening, make garden related crafts and grow plants. The students will become Junior Master Gardeners at the end of the year and can become Green Team members when they enter grade 5. They plant and maintain vegetable beds along Dawn Drive. Last fall, the space on Dawn Drive was completely fenced and beds added with the support of the PTO and the LV Garden Club.
The hillside around the marquis was sown with wildflower seeds by the entire fourth grade class. A “Spirit Bed” is being built around the marquis and will be planted with blue, gold, yellow and white plants.
Second and third graders, along with the help of the Girl Scouts, are replanting the science lab courtyard with plants that attract birds, butterflies and hummingbirds. The courtyard is a designated Schoolyard Habitat by the National Wildlife Federation. Terraces are being added for more planting space.
First graders and Green Team kids replanted their breezeway leading out the back doors. Native Hill Country rock- and shade-loving plants cheer up the doorway. In their courtyard where the students like to spread out beach towels and read on nice days, a raised bed will be planted with perennials and flowering plants.
Kindergarteners have always loved playing in the dirt. They started container gardening last year with herbs and flowers. With the help of the Green Team, they have more flowerbed space and steps leading up the hill to their pot locations. They will also add on to their compost piles to help nourish their own pots and beds.
The PTO will be kicking off a penny fundraiser to purchase a large tree for the front lawn of the school. We are asking the children to bring in their pennies (or change). The class with the most pennies will get to choose a name for the tree in celebration of Earth Day on April 22.
The contest begins Monday. The more money we collect, the larger the tree will be. Keep any eye out for containers to donate around town.