Volunteer Greta Gray has been hard at work outside South Fork Elementary School this year, and the result is a garden that the whole school can feel proud of.

Gray showed up at South Fork at the beginning of the school year looking to volunteer in a classroom. While she was there, she noticed that the garden outside the school where students enter first thing in the morning was overgrown with weeds. As a landscaping enthusiast always on the lookout for a new improvement project, she decided to focus her efforts on revitalizing the garden.

“Whenever school started back, I came in to be a reading volunteer,” Gray said. “I asked them if I could do something about the garden, and they said they needed help. I told them to consider it done.”

The last few weeks have been extremely productive. Weeds have been removed, bushes have been trimmed, new flowers have been planted, and decorations have been assembled for a rotation of seasonal displays. Gray handled the whole update herself, except for some planting and watering help from the school’s fourth grade science students. For those students, knowing that something alive and beautiful is going to grow outside their school because of their hard work has been a highlight of their school year so far.

“I like watching things grow,” said Fourth Grader Charlotte Lawson. “My grandma has a garden like this too… she’s going to think it’s great when I tell her about this.”

When students and their families come to school every morning at South Fork, they’re treated to a lovely sight that reminds them both that their local community cares about them and that their students are getting involved in their school. It’s been a great way to build community early in the school year – a way that all those involved hope spreads around the district.

“I hope this will inspire other community members to get involved, because it raises morale and it’s a great life lesson for the kids,” said Board of Education Member Susan Miller. “It shows that someone cares.”