WALGROVE ELEMENTARY CELEBRATES THE END OF SCHOOL YEAR; HOSTS GRAND OPENING OF THE “WALGROVE WILDLANDS”

Nationally recognized for its model programs, Walgrove Elementary has just finished the 2013/14 school year with the celebration and opening of the “Walgrove Wildlands.” In addition to Walgrove Principal Olivia Adams, parent volunteers, and students; politicians and dignitaries were present for the ribbon cutting on Friday, May 30, 2014 -- including Los Angeles Councilmember Mike Bonin, LAUSD School Board Member Steve Zimmer, and California Assemblymember Steven Bradford.

“May 30th was a landmark day for Walgrove Elementary and all LAUSD schools,” says Emiko Kuwata, Co-Chair of the Walgrove Wildlands Steering Committee. “The Walgrove Wildlands are an example of what a community with a dream can make happen. As Victor Hugo said 'Nothing, not all the armies in the world, can stop an idea whose time has come.' I'm so grateful to have gone on this journey with Clare Carey, Zara Bennett, and Olivia Adams."

"Steven Bradford, Steve Zimmer and Mike Bonin all applauded the efforts of the students and the community to contribute to making the world a better place," adds Clare Carey, Co-Chair of the Walgrove Wildlands Steering Committee.

Walgrove Elementary has been established as an official “Wildlife Habitat” with the National Wildlife Federation. Walgrove students work weekly with a Master Gardner learning how to care for the gardens and hold sales of the organic produce they have grown. The garden program extends across the Walgrove campus and includes:

-a flourishing organic garden
-individual classroom garden boxes
-a cafeteria vegetable and herb garden
-a kinder "garden" that is an official Monarch Butterfly Habitat

Walgrove now boasts a 25,000-square-foot schoolyard habitat and outdoor laboratory known as the “Walgrove Wildlands.” It offers all Walgrove students the opportunity to become stewards of their environment by engaging directly with nature. This urban, eco-lab has been designed for on-campus curriculum-based science education including lessons about native plants and animal species, eco-systems, watershed issues and more. It also facilitates the practice of council and a myriad of outdoor projects that promote learning and discovery.

The Walgrove Wildlands was made possible through generous grants and funding by a Sony Greener World Grant, the Roth Family Foundation, the Santa Monica Audubon Society, as well as funding from LAUSD.

Additionally, the “Walgrove Wildlands” was conceived and constructed by parents, staff, students and volunteers from throughout Los Angeles. Walgrove collaborates with the LAUSD, Enrich LA, S.M Bay Audubon Society, Whole Foods, Loyola Marymount's CURes program, Common Vision, Surfrider Foundation, Million TreesLA, Kids4Trees, Theodore Payne Native Plant Foundation, CA Native Plant Society, Venice Youthbuild and volunteer groups from UCLA, Pepperdine and Santa Monica College, just to name a few of Walgrove’s many partners and supporters. Walgrove’s owes the largest debt of gratitude to its landscape architect, Ryan Drnek of Sodder Studio.

About Walgrove Elementary School:
LAUSD and Superintendent John Deasy recently announced “Parent and Community Engagement” as a targeted district goal for improving our local schools. Walgrove Elementary, a new model for a winning neighborhood public school, is living proof that engaging community partners directly strengthens and enriches our children’s education.

Resources:
Check out the Walgrove Wildlands web site at: www.walgrovewildlands.com
Take a look at the all-new FOW web site at: www.friendsofwalgrove.com
Follow the happenings at Walgrove on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/103083729731928/