Page 49 - Laguna Blanca Magazine Summer 2018

This past November, students finished the second phase of a The garden area, located in the front of the campus, now
new Native California Garden on campus. Originally designed as includes native plants, an outdoor class circle space, and a 25-
a formal rose garden by alumni parent Robin Fell, the students foot mural featuring native and endemic flora and fauna from
voted to name the re-imagined garden space “Wishtoyo,” the Channel Islands habitat. The experience allowed students to
which in Chumash means “bridge from the past to the future learn even more about the important role the right habitat plays
and beyond.” With the help of Science Teacher Clara Svedlund in sustaining all life forms.
and Art Teacher Melissa Abrams, as well as AP Environmental Next year, as the final phase of the project, Teacher Clara
Studies students, fourth and fifth grade students revitalized the Svedlund hopes to install a sound barrier along the west side of
space in a way that allows for resilience of campus plant life, the garden and complete a second mural in the area. Students
even when water is in short supply. will plant native milkweed, the food of migrating monarch
The project originally began in 2016-2017 when students butterflies and their larvae. They will learn that creating a resilient
learned about mapping out a mural and elements of mural garden means paying attention to the life cycles of individual
design, problems associated with the ongoing drought, the species and how they interact with others in the environment.
functionality of an outdoor classroom, and the beautification
SUMMER 2018
and maintenance of a prominent space on our campus.

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