A Message from Travis Ward, PTA Grounds Committee Chair
Brandon's Backyard is looking better than ever! The Grounds Committee has been hard at work this year, and the following projects have been completed:
At the Main Campus: Construction of a new Rain Garden and Outdoor Learning Center; installation of a new Shumard oak tree to replace the lost one; renovation of the woodland trail, including expansion of the trail and a new bridge; certification of the Main Campus as a Certified Wildlife Habitat with the National Wildlife Federation; creation of a new garden for PEC students with enhanced accessibility features; installation of a new vegetable garden, shady reading garden and cafeteria garden; renovation of the front planting beds; Christmas tree chipping; Woodland classroom renovation (in process); Backyard "spruce-up" for Field Day (in process).
At the Primary Center: Expansion of the vegetable garden; construction of an outdoor classroom; construction of a leaf composing center; new picnic tables on playground (in process).
At Both Campuses: Installation of rain barrels to facilitate the irrigation of all the Brandon gardens with captured storm water; gardening classes held by teachers and parents; Scout Troop projects, which have included mulching, planting and various other gardening activities.
A big thank you goes out to all the parents, students, staff, and Girl Scouts troops who contributed to these efforts, often on weekends and in the evenings—you rock! The Bee Green Team, Roots & Shoots teams, and the Grounds Committee have really pulled together this year as well. Also, a big thank you goes out to the Brandon Class of 2011 for its donation to the rain garden, and to our many corporate sponsors who helped make these projects possible, including: Allied Fence, Niles Bolton Associates, Seasonal Solutions, Yardera, Yates Landscaping, Pavestone, Gunnison Tree Service, the Coca-Cola Company, Woodfield Construction, and West Tree Company.
We’re looking forward to a great upcoming year with more projects planned for both campuses. This summer we need help watering our existing gardens, and if you can dedicate even one or two days to turning on hoses, please let me know via email at travis@pearlmultimedia.com. It will be easy and will only take thirty minutes to an hour each time.
If you’d like to help with gardening in general at the main campus, please contact me; at the Primary Center, please contact Tom Johnson at tom.johnson@wineryexchange.com.
Congratulations on a great, green year, Morris Brandon!
- Travis Ward, PTA Grounds Chair.