El Carmelo's

Reading Garden Project

The El Carmelo Reading Garden was conceived in the Fall of 1995. Debbi
Sizemore, Grade 4/5 Reading Teacher, saw a rapidly deteriorating space
on campus made worse by the destruction of a tree by a rainstorm that
she thought could be made into a beautiful and tranquil place for
students to read. Anne Munro, then PTA President gladly welcomed the
idea as did the Principal, Elayne Goodman.

With financial support from
the PTA, extensive contributions from the commuunity including Woolworth
Garden Center, Orchard Supply, and The Gamble Garden Center, the project
was set into motion. A small group designed the area with lots of input
from students . Then we slogged about rototilling and cementing to
accomodate a small group extending our teaching space beyond the walls!
Every student helped to plant a flower or a shrub during the last few
days of the 1996 school year!

The garden represents a huge community
effort which is enjoyed by students every day. We have a portable cart
filled with books which is rolled out beside the garden each day.