Powerful Schools works with Rainier Valley schools to support arts, mentoring, after school classes, tutoring, and writing experiences.
_____________________
On October 22nd 2007, Matt and Laura's 4-5th grade students went with Rita Howard, our Environmental Education Coordinator, to the Green River to help complete a riverbank restoration project constructed this summer by King County. John Koon, 4th grade parent, arranged the field trip which included the outstanding leadership of an international EarthCrops crew and several parent chaperons. In addition to planting 224 native plants, of which 125 were grown by Orca students in our Native plant nursery, the students took time to make wildlife and habitat observations. These observations helped link the field activity to microhabitat projects the students have been working on in the classroom. We continue to improve the Green River field trips, we we have been doing for the past few years, by linking them more solidly to classroom work.
Our next native plant activities will include re-potting plants
started last year in the nursery and starting new plants to plant
during field trips in future years. The native plant nursery, which we
moved from our Columbia location, is being reestablished on the west side of the school between the building and the playground.
In the spring we hope to take another field trip to the same site to
mulch the plants we planted on the river and possibly install the drip irrigation system. During that field trip we will also make more
observations, including observations of changes that are likely to
have occurred as a result of winter flood flows.
If you are interested in becoming more involved in the native plant
program, please contact Rita Howard or John Koon (723-7444).
Opportunities include helping lead classes in nursery activities,
working on the establishment of a native plant species garden at the school, and participating in future field trips.
