Novato school recognized for environmental efforts

Pleasant Valley Elementary School in Novato has earned its second certification from the National Wildlife Federation for its work to create educational wildlife habitats.

Read the full article in the MARIN INDEPENDENT JOURNAL

Volunteer Kaylei Weston says of the project:

“My motivation for this project sparked from being a Girl Scout. I decided to focus my Girl Scout gold award project on creating an outdoor learning space. My goal is to create a better learning environment for children to spend time in with hands on learning and to establish a lasting mini ecosystem that benefits the surrounding nature. Being in nature creates a calmer environment with less stress allowing students to be more focused and productive when learning. Having this open area allows kids to have an opportunity for hands on learning. They can observe important life cycles and the plants and animals in their ecosystem. This habitat will also be a shelter for many animals. My hope is to be able to see the change this habitat makes for the community.

Thank you to Home Ground Habitats for donating the plants and providing expert butterfly, native plant and soil education to make this project a success.

Also thank you to Non-Toxic Schools for helping coordinate the irrigation and planting phase of the project and for providing long term care of the garden. Thank you to the Pleasant Valley PTA and Principal Quan for funding the irrigation, compost, and mulch.  Thank you to Green Hauling for donating proper disposal of the green waste.”

Tony Quan (Pleasant Valley principal), Quiana Moore (Kaylei’s mom), Kaylei Weston (Project Organizer), Piper Primrose (Non-Toxic Schools), Charlotte Torgovitsky (Home Ground Habitats), Michele Spremich (Lemons and Lavender Edible Gardens)