There was much to celebrate at the Secondary Bilingual Orientation Center on Friday, June 17, as the institution became an official National Wildlife Fed-eration-certified Schoolyard Habitat site. SBOC staff and students, along with numerous community partners, came together to celebrate this yearlong proj-ect with a ribbon-cutting ceremony, student poetry readings and the release of thousands of live ladybugs.
The certification of the school grounds marks more than a year of academic and service-learning accomplishments and demonstrates a truly interdisciplinary effort on the part of SBOC teachers Irene Rodriguez (social studies), Lisa Zbigley (science), YoungHee Lee (math/science) and Lori Leberer (art). The learning garden they established is now home to more than 400 native plants selected to attract native birds and butterflies - and the school grounds are fairly buzzing with wildlife.
SBOC, under the leadership of dedicated teachers, has been working on creating its outdoor classroom for a few years with the help of the Friends of Old Hay. With grants from the Department of Neighborhoods and the Amgen Foundation, and with the help of the National Wildlife Federation, the Institute for Systems Biology, Seattle Audubon and community volunteers such as Jim Waldref - who designed the Schoolyard Habitat - the SBOC was able to expand its learning garden to provide wildlife with the four basic elements of sound habitat: food, water, cover and safe places for wildlife to raise their young. SBOC teachers incorporated these concepts into their curriculum and students spent the year learning about various aspects of native plants and animals through the eyes of a scientist, artist and historian.
The schoolyard habitat now boasts upwards of 30 native species of wildlife-attracting plants, along with colorful, student-designed birdbaths, hummingbird feeders and nature-inspired murals. By participating in this program, the SBOC is leading the way in a growing educational trend to provide students with hands-on outdoor learning experiences. The National Wildlife Federation and the Institute for Systems Biology commend the dedicated educators, students and SBOC community members for their wildlife conservation efforts, and for creating a community where people and wildlife can flourish and youth can learn firsthand the wonders of the natural world.
By all means, swing by and enjoy this native wildlife habitat!
-Submitted by Gretchen Muller
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