Schools - Project Descriptions 1998
Schools - Project Descriptions 1998 |
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Browse through this section and see what some of our participating schools are doing with their school grounds naturalization projects this year.
Guide to Project Schools
| A-B | C-D | E-F | G-H
| I-J | K-N | O-S | T-Z
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Admiral Westphal Junior High School |
As an extension of the school’s vermicomposting program, Admiral Westphal Junior High School students planned and cleared a small 15 square metre turf grass area to use as a native teaching garden. Compost from the school’s vermicomposters are used in the new naturalized area.
Address: 6 Fourth St., Dartmouth, NS B2X 3A5
Contact: Colleen McNamara, Teacher
Phone: 902-435-8405
Beaver Bank Kinsac Elementary school has planted native white ash trees for shade by the playground equipment. The children planted the perimeter of the property with white spruce last June. A composting program is now in effect through the school’s Green Team program. The school also removed a small area of turf grass where it developed a teaching garden. The school has plans for further projects.
Address: RR# 1, Lower Sackville, NS B4C 2S6
Contact: Heather Sherry, Teacher
Phone: 902-864-6805
Brookhouse Elementary
Brookhouse Elementary School removed two small sections of asphalt near the front entrance of the school where staff, students school to a natural woodland area and outdoor classroom. As this is a major undertaking which involves the removal of a large concrete drainage ditch, much of the committee’s time has been in negotiations with city politicians and municipal engineering staff. The woodland will also include a small wetland area. The concept ideas behind the ambitious project come from a 1990 study conducted by students from the Nova Scotia College of Art and Design.
Address: 15 Christopher Ave., Dartmouth, NS B2W 3G2
Contact: Joanne Conrod, Teacher
Phone: 902-435-8318
Back to the Guide to Project Schools
Caledonia Junior High School’s first project was to build window boxes for the school. Students are currently constructing two large wooden planters for the front of the school. The school’s naturalization committee and two teachers has plans to excavate six areas along a barren side of the school where they will plant native trees to create a natural woodland community to provide shade for the school, an informal meeting area and an outdoor classroom area. The naturalized area will total half an acre.
Caledonia’s current school ground is almost completely covered in asphalt. This spring, the city’s Parks and Natural Services will plant four large maple trees at half the wholesale cost to the school in partnership with the city’s street tree planting program.
Address: 38 Caledonia Rd., Dartmouth, NS B2X 1K8
Contact: Mary LeBlanc, Teacher
Phone: 902-435-8413
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Dartmouth High School |
Dartmouth High School designed and constructed a courtyard garden area complete with seating, a trellis and a small pond. The school is also cleared a small amount of asphalt and turf grass on one side of the school where it constructed a natural walkway. Flowerbeds of marigolds were put in at the main entrance. There are plans for further more ambitious projects including the construction of a greenhouse There are strong links between the completed projects and school curriculum thanks to an active School Ground Naturalization Committee which includes two Science teachers, an English teacher, a Resource teacher and half a dozen students. School teams have participated in litter cleanups and digging and maintenance of garden beds. Football and hockey coaches report that these are great morale building exercises for players.
Dartmouth High has been nominated for a Nova Scotia Environmental Assessment Board Award for 1998!
Address: 95 Victoria Rd., Dartmouth, NS B3A 1V2
Contact: Linda Lever, Teacher
Phone: 902-464-2457
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Located in Halifax’s Southend, Ecole Beaufort has recently removed a large asphalt area in the front of the school which it has turned into an outdoor classroom with native plants. The classroom will be incorporated into all aspects of the school’s curriculum. Other projects have included the development of a school composting program and the construction of several planters. Th regard.
Address: 1589 Walnut St., Halifax, NS B3H 3S1
Contact: Joanne Murphy, Teacher
Phone: 902-421-6761
Ellenvale
Ellenvale Junior High School constructed several raised wooden planters for the front entrance of the school and will be planting five native tree saplings along one side of the school. In addition, students, staff and parents are planning to dig up a 16 square metre area of grass in the front of the school which will be converted to a native garden area.
Address: 88 Bella Vista Drive, Dartmouth, NS B2W 2X7
Contact: Gary Croft, Teacher
Phone: 902-435-8420
Elizabeth Sutherland School
Elizabeth Sutherland developed a model forest on a steep slope below the school’s ball field in addition to creating a small garden plot outside the library window. The school also adopted a pond staff and students help restore. The pond area is used as an important teaching resource by the school.
Address: 66 Rockingstone Rd., Halifax, NS B3P 2C9
Contact: Mamie Wilks, Librarian
Phone: 902-479-4427
Eric Graves Junior High School
Located in Dartmouth, Eric Graves Junior High School has transformed 40 square metres of
grass areas at the front and back of the school to native gardens. The school is also in
the process of converting a further 200 square metres of grass area to a native woodland
and shade garden.
Address: 70 Dorthea Dr., Dartmouth, NS B2W 4M3
Contact: June Donald, Teacher
Phone: 902-435-8325
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George Bisset Elementary School |
Students and staff at George Bisset Elementary are planning to plant several areas of native shrubs and trees in some of the school’s open areas to provide shade and to add colour to their grounds. In addition, a small bed of native species will be planted at the foot of a hill on school property. A bulb bed and a tree were planted in September, 1997 in front of the school.
Address: 170 Arklow Dr., Cole Harbour, NS B2W 4R6
Contact: Cameron MacLennan
Phone: 902-464-5184
Gorsebrook Junior High School
Gorsebrook Junior High has completed its concept design for its school grounds and will be naturalizing approximately 120 square metres of previously turfed open space in two places on school property. One native garden will be used as a scent garden for the school’s population of visually and physically challenged students. Another medicinal garden is planned for teaching about native, Mik’maq herbal remedies.
Address: 5966 South St., Halifax, NS B3H 1G9
Contact: Barbara Haley, Resource
Phone: 902-421-6758
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Halifax Grammar School |
Halifax Grammar School’s first project involved the removal of turf bordering a chain-link fence which surrounds playing fields. It was replaced with a large horseshoe-shaped berm of earth and will soon be planted with native trees, shrubs, grasses and flowers. On International School Grounds Day 1997, the school constructed several wooden planters which were planted with flowers. The school hopes to build a wooden composter and start a composting program. Currently, the school is working to create a 35 square metre wetland/outdoor classroom at the rear of the school. Their concept design for their school yard is complete.
Address: 5750 Atlantic Street, Halifax, NS B3H 1G9
Contact: Judy Guernsey, Parent Advisory Committee
Phone: 902-422-6497
Harbour View Elementary School
Harbour View Elementary's activities have included litter pickups, composting and the creation of a detailed school ground naturalization concept design. The school plans on building paths and seating areas throughout a remnant natural area which borders school property. They are also constructing several pallets
Address: 25 Alfred St., Dartmouth, NS B3A 4E8
Contact: Denise Horne, Parent
Phone: 902-464-2051
Harry R. Hamilton Elementary School
Harry R. Hamilton boasts one of the most active school ground naturalization programs in the Model Schools project. So far, the ambitious school has initiated many exciting projects, all of which are o date, the school has partially restored a small pond/wetland area on school property, planted an apple orchard and built a large, 30 by 7 metre butterfly garden, "Flutter Inn", towards the front of the school. Their concept design for further projects has been completed. Harry R. won a NS Environmental Assessment Board award for their Naturalization work in 1997!
Address: 40 Hamilton Dr., Middle Sackville, NS B4E 3A9
Contact: Jill Grandy, Teacher
Phone: 902-864-6815
Herring Cove Junior High School
Herring Cove Junior High will be 273 square metres of turf which it will replace with native grasses, shrubs, flowers and trees. There are also plans for the replacement for a further 600 plus square metres of asphalt for conversion into a terraced gardens at the entranceway. The school is still working to complete its concept design for their naturalized school ground.
Address: 7 Lancaster Rd., Halifax, NS B0J 1S0
Contact: Mary MacDonald, Principal
Phone: 902-479-4214
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John MacNeil Elementary School
John MacNeil Elementary is completing the initial stage of its school ground naturalization project. They are gathering ideas from students for their concept design. The school hopes to remove approximately 530 square yards of grass on either side of its playground and replace it with native trees, wildflower plantings and a pathway. The school is also constructing several planter boxes and small ornamental beds at strategic locations throughout the school property.
Last summer, the school's playground got a facelift with help from Halifax Regional Municipality's Recreation and Leisure Services Department. Parks and Natural Services and the Ecology Action Centre's Youth Corps workers also came through with soil and sod, and removed unsafe fence remains.
Address: 62 Leaman Dr., Dartmouth, NS B3A 2K9
Contact: Charlie Martin, Teacher
Phone: 902-464-2488
John Martin Junior High School
In an effort to establish a healthy, outdoor learning environment, the school planted a
small, native woodland community in front of the school and is building some seating
areas. The seating area is intended to give youth a place to "hang" in addition
to providing space for an outdoor classroom. This school is integrating this project into
the curriculum through its "Exploratory" program. The next component to be
developed is a school vermicomposting and outdoor composting program. This program will be
phased in over the course of two years.
Address: 7 Brule St., Dartmouth, NS B3A 4G2
Contact: Mary Jacquard, Teaching Assistant
Phone: 902-464-2427
John W. MacLeod
John W. MacLeod school planted a windbreak using evergreen tree species in one corner of its schoolyard this month. In an area of grass they are currently in the process of creating a vegetable garden, and a native tamarack grove. Last autumn they created a shaded outdoor classroom in the mixed woodland behind the school. The school has completed a concept design for its larger projects.
Address: 159 Purcell’s Cove Rd., Halifax, NS B3P 1B7
Contact: Sandra MacDonald, Vice-Principal
Phone: 902-479-4437
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Lemarchant St. Thomas Elementary School
Lemarchant St. Thomas is replaced a large area of grass adjacent to the school’s parking with bark mulch and is transforming the area into a native plant garden. Seating was also constructed for an outdoor classroom and formal learning linkages were made between it and school curriculum. With help from a school parent and a local landscape architect, Lemarchant intends to create several distinct garden and a fern garden. Their concept design for the entire school property has been completed. The school now has its own website with a page devoted to its naturalization efforts.
Address: 6141 Watt St., Halifax, NS B3H 2B7
Contact: Donna Silver, Librarian
Phone: 902-421-6769
Staff and students of the school "adopted" with permission, a small, natural woodland on school property. A large bulb bed was planted by school children last September.
Address: Valleyford Rd., Dartmouth, NS B2X 1N8
Contact: Karen Dalling, Teacher
Phone: 902-435-8305
Notting Park School is having a tough start. Unfortunately, there is currently no staff leader for a naturalization program, and with half of the student population turning over every year there is not a strong Home and School Association to help with school ground naturalization projects. This is despite the Notting Park was one of the first four schools in the region to volunteer for the Model School Project two years ago. School children and staff did, however, construct and plant a small flower bed last autumn.
Address: 182 Wyse Road, Dartmouth, NS B3A 1M9
Contact: Veronica Guitard, Principal
Phone: 902-464-2069
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Saint Stephen's Elementary School
Saint Stephen’s has embarked upon a number of ambitious projects including a bog restoration scheme that included the restoration of a cranberry plot. The school is also constructing several raised planters for its courtyard and they created a special garden for the school’s 50th anniversary where native tree saplings are planted by each incoming prim
Address: 3669 Highland Ave., Halifax, NS B3K 4J9
Contact: Mike Solak, Biologist and Parent
Phone: 902-493-5157
Sambro-Ketch Harbour Elementary School
Sambro Elementary has been slowly upgrading its planter area to learn about native gardening, composting and plant science. Additionally, the school will construct five small seating areas with native plantings and will be planting a windbreak using native trees. The school is the Model School’s marine school, as it sits on the shore of the Atlantic Ocean!
Address: 3725 Sambro Rd., Sambro, NS B0J 2Y0
Contact: Kate Bragg, Parent
Phone: 902-868-2717
South Woodside Elementary School
South Woodside planted a small natural area in the front of the school with native plants, shrubs and flowers. A windbreak of native trees was also planted along the chain-link fence which circles the grounds. The windbreak is also intended to help filter particulate and air pollution from a major traffic artery which neighbours the school and an oil refinery across the street.
Address: 5 Everette St., Dartmouth, NS B2W 1G2
Contact: Vivian Vogt, Vice-Principal
Phone: 902-464-2505
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To mark the beginning of its naturalization program, Tantallon Elementary dug up a small amount of turf and planted a flower garden last autumn. This past April, the school also brought in topsoil and planted two white birch and a fir tree in the front of the school. There will be more projects to come, as students and staff are currently working on concept plants for more ambitious naturalization projects.
Address: RR# 2 Tantallon, NS B0J 3J0
Contact: Judy Cornelius, Resource Teacher
Phone: 902-826-1200
summary by John Ingram
edited by Rhea Dawn Mahar
May 15, 1998