Newsletter #3
September 2011
www.foresthillstreegeneration.org
Forest Hill Public School sure has changed in the last six months. The front walkway leads to new doors, some old trees gone but new ones to replace them. The old port-a-pack is gone and brand new kindergarten classrooms are in its place. Some new asphalt and grass on the primary side with the 50th anniversary tree and the memorial tree relocated with loving care. It seems to show that Forest Hill is undergoing a renewal. Seemingly like a small butterfly starting to emerge from its chrysalis with so much more to come.
For those of you who are new to Forest Hill you may be learning for the first time that there is a greening committee made up of parents, teachers and staff. We officially started to meet last year and began the process of learning what we needed to do to make a plan, raise the funds and realize the dream. We were told to dream big and then start small. In our minds is a forest like atmosphere with winding pathways, sitting rocks and benches under a green canopy that creates a cool, shady place to play or sit. We dream of parents waiting for their children in the shade talking to each other and creating an even better community. We dream of children playing on the climber but protected from the sun’s harmful rays and keeping cool on hot, sunny days.
We made a plan for phase one consisting of trees around the climber to provide shade on the primary side of the school. We got quotes for the cost of trees and rocks and mulch. We started fundraising. We had garage sale tables at Victoria Hills Community Centre in March ($345.00) and May ($509). We had a fundraiser selling spring bulbs ($1742) and we were granted $4000 by TD-Friends of the Environment and $1000 by Metro Green Apple School Program.
Our phase one plans have changed due to future renewal projects but we are flexible and will move to a different part of our big dream and start there. On October 15, 2011 two 100 mm Celebration Maple trees will be planted close to the climber and six other trees will also be placed in a semi-circle at the end of the Kindergarten wing. Two rocks each will be placed by the anniversary tree and the memorial tree, to protect them from snow pile in the winter.
A ribbon cutting ceremony and celebration will start at 3pm and we hope you will come out and live the dream as it starts to come true. It will also help us show our appreciation to TD-FEF and Metro- Green Apple for their generosity.
www.fef.td.com www.greenapplegrants.ca
It is going to happen! Finally! JCA Trees will be coming on Saturday Oct. 15th to plant 8 large spaded trees. Two will be between the climber and the benches. Six will form a semi-Circle in the small grassy area at the end of the Kindie Wing. Although the plan has changed since our original plan for phase one we are still very excited to take our first step toward “Putting the Forest Back in Forest Hill”
Since large machinery will be on site to plant these large trees we will be holding a celebration at 3 pm and will have some crafts, games, beverages and snacks.
We Thank the generosity of TD-Friends of the Environment and Metro Green Apple Program
Without these two organization we would have had to wait longer to get our beautiful trees and rocks.
We hope to see you there.
Thankfully they planted 5 trees at the front of the school and put some sod down so the front looks great. Pictures to follow. I can still imagine a couple of more trees at the front so we’ll see in the future but right now the back is the most important area. Any volunteers to do some major gardening in the flowerbeds would be greatly appreciated.
A big shock two months ago to see some of the 40+ year old trees cut down on the front lawn of Forest Hill Public School! Talk about traumatizing the greening committee members. We contacted Mr. Zack who has told me that there is a plan to plant more trees on the front lawn so not to worry. We may be involved in the choice of what will be planted. So there is hope for the forest yet.
Well September is just around the corner and we have finally found out what will be happening at the school. As you know, we could not plant in the spring due to the construction of the kindergarten wing. Our school is now going to continue with improvements over the next 3 years with a new double gym, a new library and office area that will be in the old gym location, and some other things that will improve accessibility. So since construction vehicles will be close to the school they would also be close to the play area where we plan to plant our first trees. We have to change our plans and plant farther away from where the construction will be and then revisit the tree planting around the climber when construction is totally complete. So back to the drawing board to plant in another area of the schoolyard. I will keep you posted!
