Now that the school year is in full swing, it is time to make sure our campuses are as welcoming and beautiful as the students who fill them.
This morning, I was happy to join a few parent volunteers in revitalizing the reading garden at Juanamaria Elementary School.
Rolling Up Our Sleeves
The garden had become overgrown with weeds and prickly branches, making it difficult for our little ones to move around comfortably, find a peaceful spot, and enjoy a book. So we rolled up our sleeves, cleared pathways, trimmed back the overgrowth, watered the soil, and began giving this special space the care it deserves.
Even a few hours of volunteer work can make a visible difference. With the soil freshly watered and space being made for ground cover and beautiful flowers beneath the trees, the garden is already beginning to feel alive again.
What It Will Become
Before long, I can picture it buzzing with life: second graders reading beneath the trees, hummingbirds visiting the blossoms, honeybees moving among the flowers, and children learning alongside the natural ecosystem around them.
Beautiful Campuses Do Not Happen by Accident
Beautiful campuses do not happen by accident. They grow when families, educators, and community members come together and invest a little time, care, and love.
I am grateful to the parent volunteers who showed up this morning. This is only the beginning, and I cannot wait to see Juanamaria’s reading garden bloom again.