Pre-schoolers are small individuals, but when 50 of them come together with a shared mission, the results can be impressive. Such was the case at Northside School, 520 N. Genesee Street, Morrison, IL. The blended Morrison Early Learning Program (MELP) preschool and conventional preschool students tilled soil, pulled weeds, and planted seeds along the east wall outside their classroom.
The regular preschool classes, taught by Jennifer Williams, have 50 students, split between a morning and afternoon session. The same applies to the MELP Special Education class, taught by Becky Coons, but there are just five children in each session.
Drive by N. Cherry Street this summer, to watch the garden progress. Pumpkins will be planted later, at the far north section.
Monday, May 15, 2017, required hard work to loosen the dry soil. Williams helped these boys.
Weeds with big taproots were extracted by little hands.
Tuesday, May 16, resulted in each child planting two sunflower seeds, marked by their tidy sticks at the back of the garden bed. In front, they sprinkled and patted a variety of flower seeds, and the ground was covered to protect them. It will be a “gardener’s surprise” to see what blooms result.
Wednesday, May 17, was a labor of love by parents, who had donated a variety of their garden plants. Hostas, purple irises, day lilies, grasses, and other growing things had appeared.
By afternoon, an attractive array was in place.
