Suncoast Credit Union

The side of Barron Collier most observable from Cougar Drive is bleak and depressing. I have heard from students, teachers and my own granddaughters that it resembles a prison. My goal therefore is to use willing students including Mr. Sharp’s Green Group and perhaps start a garden club to install some native vegetation and improve aesthetics as well as overall morale.

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Landscape for Optimism

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School:
Barron Collier High 
Subject:
Science 
Teacher:
Shoshana Yarin 
 
Ian Sharp 
Students Impacted:
1600 
Grade:
11 
Date:
July 21, 2019

Investor

Thank you to the following investor for funding this grant.

 

Michael Schroeder - $414.00

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Impact to My Classroom

# of Students Impacted: 160

This project went as well as hoped. The students jumped on board both to volunteer to do work and to incorporate the BCH community project into their chemistry class. Though if I could do it over, I learned I might choose a different plant in one area, but I am hopeful that after the summer rains they will flourish as well.

The flowers and tree made an impactful difference to the bus entrance area of the school and I am hopeful the beautiful tree will be standing long after me! Students appreciated just the effort to consider them and teachers made several comments that the plants made a world of difference to entering the school.

 

In class, students wre able to take a mini field trip outside to collect soil samples. We tested for moisture content, pH and Iron. They wrote recommendations in their lab report and took their role seriously. It was great to incorporate science into their world that they could witness. I am encouraged to try more projects that might beautify the school and lift morale!

 

Additionally, continued care offered opportunity for a few students to earn community service hours since the newly planted landscape needed regular watering.

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Lab Report

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Plants Deliverd

 

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Plants in the Ground

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Happily digging

 

Original Grant Overview

Goal

The side of Barron Collier most observable from Cougar Drive is bleak and depressing. I have heard from students, teachers and my own granddaughters that it resembles a prison. My goal therefore is to use willing students including Mr. Sharp’s Green Group and perhaps start a garden club to install some native vegetation and improve aesthetics as well as overall morale.  

 

What will be done with my students

Students will participate in the entire project by first discussing the importance of chemistry in agriculture and landscaping. Soil moisture content and pH will be tested. Students will research benefits of native planting and make connections that excess fertilizers and watering can contribute to the blue-green algae problem. Only hardy and drought tolerant species will be planted, but also beneficial properties such as butterfly attractions will be considered. The plantings can be incorporated into any content throughout the school, not limited to my chemistry classes or garden club. 

 

Benefits to my students

My own students will benefit from participating in the beatification project, but the entire school will benefit by entering school each day feeling like they attend a valued place and not a prison-like setting. My classes will experience the value in applying content knowledge to a real and beneficial application. All bus students (and many teachers) enter the school each day via the side route and will be pleased to see such an effort towards beautification that was done for their benefit. What a great attitude boost to start the day!  

 

Budget Narrative

Native plants can be purchased at Clarks Nursery. If budget items can fulfill the need or other donations, less total monies will be needed, or the purchase of additional maintenance tools could be helpful. 

 

Items

# Item Cost
1 cocoplum x 3 $45.00
2 fiddle wood x 2 $80.00
3 powderpuff x 2 $70.00
4 wild sage x 3 $90.00
5 muhly grass x 3 $39.00
6 alamanda vine x 2 $50.00
7 soil enhancers & fertilizer $40.00
  Total: $414.00

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Special Thanks to Our Presenting Partners

Suncoast Credit Union