Growing Skills at Westmount
Jun 5, 2018
Through a partnership with Youth Fusion and Student Success Branch of the Ministry of Education, students at Westmount Public School have had the unique opportunity to participate in a unique experiential learning program. The Westmount students have completed an environmental design program that has transformed their school grounds! On Wednesday, June 6, the newly designed school grounds and gardens will be officially opened.
“This has been an incredible experience for the students and also for our staff,” says AJ Keene, Principal of Westmount Public School. “We have received incredible support from Youth Fusion and a host of local mentors throughout the course of the project.”
The Westmount Public School Environmental Design Project included:
- Garden boxes for vegetables
- Planter boxes and benches
- Picnic tables
- Flower gardens
- Plans for future growth of the area including a pergola
During the course of the project, the students worked collaboratively as they completed the entire process of designing, developing, and building an environmentally conscious green space on the Westmount grounds. The students worked closely with Linda Boni, Environmental Studies major of Lakehead University, and Scotia Biloski, Environmental Technician graduate of Confederation College. They also received mentorship in numerous horticultural and landscaping disciplines from local Landscape Ontario mentors John Soychek of Landale Gardens and John Vanderwees of Vanderwees Home and Garden.
The Westmount Public School environmental design project received a number of awards at the Youth Fusion Gala held in Toronto on May 30. The Westmount project was awarded first place for Excellence of Approach, first place for Attention to Detail, second place in Horticulture, and second place for the Judge’s Choice Award. They were also presented with four plants that will be added to the school garden.
