School Garden Courtyard Enhancement
Students don't get to spend much time outside during the school day. Two years ago, the front courtyard was open so that students could walk through during passing times between classes. Students appreciated the access to this space for fresh air during their days. The goal of this project is to increase access to being outside by making it easier to walk from the back of the school to the front, and to create an outdoor space for students and staff to use for both class and project work.
Outdoor Classroom - Current Efforts
Create an outdoor classroom space in the unused area by using benches that convert into picnic tables for outdoor work and by adding shade sails.
Student Leader(s): Ben Mulvey
Faculty Mentor(s): Natalie Munn, William Brown, Colton McCracken (IGI), Mike Taus, Dana Munn
Original space in the upper back corner of the courtyard
Seating Area - Current Efforts
Create a student Flex/ Lunch/ Study Hall area on the opposite side by updating picnic tables and adding umbrellas, and adding additional seating such as lounge chairs and tables, etc
Student Leader(s): Ben Mulvey, Henry D'Andrea, Sam Fetters, Linus Munn
Faculty Mentor(s): Natalie Munn, Colton McCracken (IGI), Mike Taus, Dana Munn
Original table area
Courtyard Design - Current Efforts
Create a walking path through the middle of the courtyard to connect current entrance to the math hallway, to be used mainly for a passing time cut-though so that students can be outside
Work with Mr Taus to enhance the entryway after the new door is installed
Student Leader(s): Ben Mulvey, Mekhi Jones, Fynn Monahan, Owen Atkins, Matthew King, Jonathan King
Faculty Mentor(s): Natalie Munn, William Brown, Colton McCracken (IGI), Mike Taus, Dana Munn
Mushroom Bed - Current Efforts
We had worked on Meatless Mondays with the cafeteria, and we wanted to try to grow mushrooms that could be used for meatless meals
The mushroom bed had been constructed and was ready for planting
We learned about mushrooms that might grow well in the space, and we learned with Ms Kurtz's Women's Studies class
We planted the mushrooms together
Student Leaders: Kiera McCarthy, Sophie Nevin
Faculty Mentors: Corinne Kurtz, Natalie Munn, Colton McCracken (IGI)
Perennial Garden - Current Efforts
Find and clear out garden areas and neaten up the surrounding areas.
Fix up the garden areas and plant flowers and shrubs to add more color and life to the courtyard.
Plant a perennial herb bed
Student Leaders: Maggie Best, Emma Williamson, Nellie Long
Faculty Mentors: Corinne Kurtz, Natalie Munn, Colton McCracken
New Entryway Preparation- Current Efforts
Create a welcoming entryway after the new door is installed by adding furniture, art, and plants
Student Leader(s): Maria Frangos
Faculty Mentor(s): Natalie Munn, Mike Taus
Courtyard Greenhouse - Current Efforts
Collect wood and other materials to create a larger and stronger greenhouse to be used by anybody in the courtyard.
Gather more information about what plants are being grown in the greenhouse so we can build it properly with enough room.
Put up strong support, add shelving inside, and create an entrance into the greenhouse
Student Leaders: Jonathan Chivers, Nicholas Lytle
Faculty Mentors: Natalie Munn
Growing Food - Current Efforts
We built supports to add to the planting beds, and helped IGI plant food
We worked with IGI to secure the supports for the grape vine
Student Leaders: Julia Sayre, Matthew King, Jonathan King, Jonathan Chivers
Faculty Mentors: Natalie Munn
PAST WORK
2019-2020
We saw that plywood covers an old doorway that connects the 200’s hallway to the back courtyard. There is already a door from that courtyard into the science wing. We then thought that we could remake the doorway in the 200's hallway, we can make it easier to go from the back of the school to the 200’s.
We would also want the courtyard to be able to be a place where students can host events such as clubs, or teachers could bring their classes outside, so we are working on a classroom area in the back courtyard. We are also working on landscaping and picnic tables for spaces that students could meet or perhaps be outside for open campus, as seniors.
Mr. Taus is helping us explore access to the space from the 200s.
Mrs. Todd has helped us with drawing out a plan of the courtyard, and we are working with Suzie Brown from Island Grown Schools, as this courtyard is our school garden area.
We have measured the garden beds, shed, and trees in the way of the path
We have mapped out how the path can through the courtyard.
We have also been working with Suzie to clear and clean up the courtyard, plant greens and mushrooms, and string up grapes on wire supports in the space.
Student Leaders: Charlie Lakis, Ben Mulvey, Cam Geary, Aden Ross, Aiden Marek
Faculty Mentors: Natalie Munn, Suzie Brown, Elsbeth Todd (Island Grown Schools), Kyle Crossland, Mike Taus
Created a new mushroom bed
Area in the 200s hallway that could be remade into a door
Top red circle = site of a door that could get remade, Bottom red circle = site where a door could be created to connect the courtyard spaces via the 200s hallway