Jacob Wiens Elementary School received an $8,000 grant from the Home Depot Foundation. Stephanie Cooper, a fifth grade teacher at Jacob Wiens, noticed an area on campus that had a lot of potential. She took the initiative to apply for a grant from the Home Depot Foundation and it was approved. The money will provide students and staff with a learning garden full of fruits and vegetables, orange trees, a solar fountain, and different flowers and plants to place throughout the campus. Additional vendors also donated to the project adding resources such as mulch, sod, and plants. Staff members are asking parents, students, and community members to join them on August 13th to help with the instillation of the project.
Principal Dana Child-Mazzei said she is excited for the learning opportunities this project will provide for Jacob Wiens’ students. The garden will be used as part of Science, Technology, Engineering, the Arts, and Mathematics (STEAM), an educational approach to learning. Students will learn about plant cells, butterfly life cycle, indigenous plants in the area, climate and water conservation, and much more.
Employees from Jacob Wiens, multiple Home Depot locations, and district staff members will be there to help with the installation. If you are willing and able to help, please come to Jacob Wiens Elementary School, located at 935 E. Campus Way, Hemet, on August 13th any time between 7:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m.