The Christian Heritage School is adding a new feature to their school grounds; one that will instill learning, mental health and wellness, reading and enjoying the beautiful outdoor for their students and staff ... and for their neighborhood.
The K-Grade 8 Brandon school is building a storybook orchard, which will feature ten apple trees and a pathway to this special green space with storyboards lining the way.
Thanks to a recent grant from Sunrise Credit Union for just over $1730 the school will be able to purchase the first two apple trees of their 10-tree orchard. As well they'll be able to purchase the supplies to build the accompanying storyboards for the walkway into the orchard.
"Our storybook garden will be a fun, educational experience for Christian Heritage school students and the Brandon community as a whole," shares Grade 3 teacher and acting Principal Raquel Peters. "The orchard will be placed immediately in front of the school, so easily accessible from the street.
Peters says the area features a well-used walking and biking path, and the large hummingbird community gardens on 26th Street. As well residents of Brentwood Village Mobile Home Park are all just meters away from the school grounds.
"We want to plant an orchard so that students can see the life cycle of an apple from buds to blossoms pollinated by all kinds of bees to apples. The apples themselves will be freely available to all who wish to pick them," she explains. "The storybook installation will encourage students, and visitors to our school, to walk through the orchard. We'll choose books that fit the season and the trees," she adds. "And we'll refresh the book every month, keeping the storybook orchard fresh and attractive to our students and visitors."
Peters says the recent grant from Sunrise Credit Union will help to build this very special place, which can also act as an outdoor classroom.
"Students love getting outside and learning and I just picture the apple trees there, beautiful and blossoming in the spring and providing shelter. And then, you know, they're walking along and following the storybook signs too. I just think it's going to be beautiful."
Storybook signs are outdoor installations that guide readers to walk from sign to sign, to read a book that has been divided. For the CHS project he signage will lead to their apple orchard.
"And then those apples the students can pick, and I just think it will be beautiful and a great way to get outside and enjoy God's creation," adds Peters. "What greater way to do that right?"
This spring Sunrise Credit Union awarded $46,730 through the Building Communities Grant Program to 5 community projects in their trading area. For this spring’s intake, they received over 50 applications from across Westman and the Parkland area.