Ms. Schertz's Classroom Edit display name

Past projects 5

• Woodland Garden and Native Plant Habitat

  Funded Dec 5, 2024

  One of the first things we've done it to rehydrate the coconut coir and have this week started a native wildflower seed packet. We're eagerly awaiting to see the first sprouts, which is giving us all something to look forward to during the long days of February. The students have been checking daily for the first signs of new life.

  Others of our students have gotten the insect hotels ready. We are applying waterproof paint to the exterior of the hotels. As soon as the ground thaws we will be putting in a 4x4 post and hanging them up!

  Our next steps are to make sure that we have a pathway, dig up another section of grass to expand the garden and to lay down all the compost that we have received. Of course the digging has to wait until after the thaw! Thank you so much for all your help!

  We are slowly increasing the biodiversity of our school yard and its paying off!”

  With gratitude,

  Ms. Schertz

• Melting Metal Gallium Ornament Experience

  Funded Nov 13, 2024

  My students had such a COOL time with our melting metal experience. They were so impressed that we could melt metal in school! They got to see first hand how quickly the metal could go from a solid to a liquid and back again. To say that they were excited was a bit of an understatement.

  You really made this dream for the students come true. We had so many great ornaments turn out! The kids loved making something for their families around the holidays. It felt like the magic of little kid learning but for middle schoolers! It isn't often that we get to see them act like grown kids, but the enthusiasm for learning was contagious.

  Thank you so much for all of your support.”

  With gratitude,

  Ms. Schertz

  This classroom project was brought to life by Young Sheldon and 2 other donors.

• Microhabitats and Environmental Restoration

  Funded Apr 24, 2023

  Thank you so much for all your help getting our micro habitats off the ground! We've successfully managed to start a woodland garden at school.

  Last school year our team started by laying out the ground cloth and stakes and compost. We've completely killed the grass. This past month a new team of students started digging up the dead grass and turning it over.

  Our students have selected spots for the bird and big habitats and we have started growing seedlings which will be planted in the spring. We couldn't have done this without your support! Thank you so much.”

  With gratitude,

  Ms. Schertz

  This classroom project was brought to life by Johnson Ohana Foundation and one other donor.

• Do It Yourself: Painting Supplies

  Funded Nov 30, 2022

  Thank you so much for all your support as we tried new things this year! The DIY students really loved the watercolors. The supplies have been in almost continuous use since they arrived. We are looking forward to spring so we can do some outdoor painting with our clipboard set up.

  So far we have worked on landscapes and portraits. We are going to be moving into lettering with the goal to have the students make their own motivational signs to take home. It's safe to say that the students are thrilled with these paintbrushes and watercolors and that it has been so fun to see them experimenting with their artistic talents.

  Thanks again!”

  With gratitude,

  Ms. Schertz

  This classroom project was brought to life by an Anonymous Classroom Supporter and 7 other donors.

• Urban Garden Club to Inspire and Rejuvenate!

  Funded Apr 28, 2022

  Thank you so much for all your assistance with our Garden Club Project. Our students are greatly enjoying their new encyclopedias and nature activities books. These books are of immense value as we try to get better at identifying and taking care of this world that surrounds us. With so much technology available it is amazing to have something concrete to hold that can impart so much knowledge to our club. We are using this knowledge to help us grow more food, increase the biodiversity of our local habitat and reduce run-off by planting a rain garden.

  Additionally, we are so grateful to expand our space. This coming year we are looking forward to growing our own food (tomatoes and peppers being the most requested). We are also going to try to grow native and prairie plants to put in our rain garden. This will be a year long project that would not be possible without the shelf space or the grow lights.

  We are so excited to get started. We've already gotten so much use out of these new tools and I cannot wait to see what the next year brings. Thank you so much! Your support of our space means the world to me and the students.”

  With gratitude,

  Ms. Schertz

  This classroom project was brought to life by Herb Kohl Philanthropies and 2 other donors.