The student body at Brentwood Elementary was part of a lasting legacy this week.
Learning Assistant and Green Team Leader Fiona Mosher led students in planting 16 dwarf apple trees on the schools property on Wednesday, March 6, something she hopes will give the school different teaching and learning opportunities.
“Having these trees will be great because it will allow us to have a common project for the school that teachers can also break out into their own individual classroom projects,” said Mosher.
The school was able to plant the trees thanks to a $1,000 grant they won from B.C. Hydro.
“We were one of 20 schools who were chosen to win the money based on what we were going to do with it,” Mosher said, adding that a phone call from the contest organizers right after Christmas got the ball rolling.
“We ordered 16 dwarf apple trees, which won’t grow too high so the students can access the fruit, from Fruit Trees and More in North Saanich,” Mosher explained.
“Some students had already been on a field trip to visit the trees at the nursery too, so they already knew a lot about them before they were even planted.” she added.
The trees were planted by a group of students with help from a handful of Stelly’s Secondary students. Mosher said the fruit trees offered an easy way for the students to learn about growing their own food.
“Apple trees are pretty much self-sustaining once they’re in the ground and established. A little pruning is all they really need which is a bit easier than trying to maintain a school vegetable garden. It’s just a great way to introduce the children to the concept of growing your own food.”
Mosher also hopes the trees will create a sort of lasting legacy for Brentwood Elementary’s current students.
“The trees being planted on the fence line along Wallace Drive makes them visible to people and we are going to put up a small sign that will read ‘these trees were planted in 2013 by students at Brentwood Elementary.’ It will give students something to remember and watch as they grow up in the community.”