Lowe’s Grant to Fund Flower Hill Garden
The Lowe’s Toolbox for Education grant program has awarded $2,000 for an outdoor gardening project at Flower Hill Primary School. The monies will cover costs associated with construction and planting materials, irrigation and gardening and maintenance supplies.
David Casamento, the Huntington School District’s director of science and instructional technology, wrote the winning grant proposal. The project involves constructing raised beds and planting a variety of shrubs, flowers and other plants, which will be maintained by Flower Hill students and parents. The garden will be incorporated into the existing K-3 science curriculum.
Mr. Casamento is planning to create outdoor learning centers at each of the district’s four primary schools. “The purpose is to make the science curriculum come alive for these young students,” he said. “Students in kindergarten will examine the life cycle of a plant and make observations about plant growth and their nutritional requirements and classify things as living and non-living. First graders will compare and contrast different living things. They will classify plants and seeds, observe and dissect seeds, look at basic plant requirements and learn about good nutrition.
Second graders “examine the interaction of living things,” Mr. Casamento said. “They will specifically examine green plants, identify their parts, and understand that different plants live in different environments. Third grade students examine life cycles of plants, including growth, development and reproduction. They will also learn about ecosystems, different seed types and the response of plants to different environments, plant adaptations and soil types.”
The Lowe’s grant monies, which were accepted by the Huntington School Board during its meeting last week, come from the company’s charitable and educational foundation. “We’re thrilled to assist you and your community with your school improvement project,” wrote Kelly Persons, Lowe’s community relations manager in a letter to Mr. Casamento announcing the grant award.
“In these strained budget times it is essential for schools to seek funding from a variety of sources,” Mr. Casamento said. “Overall, a partnership between Lowe’s and our district will help strengthen our science program and make it more accessible and interesting for students of all backgrounds.”
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