Webster Garden Celebrates 100 Years

Webster Garden Turns 100!

After receiving the position of Principal of Webster Elementary School, being an amateur “history buff”,  I immediately began researching its past by  interviewing people, researching on-line and in old books,  In doing so, I found an article from the Escanaba Morning Press dated Wednesday, May 27th, 1914. It reads, “Members of the Webster building committee recommended the establishment of a school garden at North Escanaba”. This means that this school year marks Webster Garden’s 100 year anniversary and if you know anyone involved with Webster Elementary you know how proud they are of their school, community, and garden!  Below are a few of my thoughts (ramblings really) and a little history on Webster and school gardens.

The Center for Disease Control (CDC) and the Journal of American Medical Association reports that about 12.7 million children and adolescents aged 2-19 years are obese in the United States. That is roughly 17% of all school-aged children and that percentage is significantly higher for children from households with less financial means. Over the past few years, the First Lady, Michelle Obama has championed the first major changes in school meals in 15 years. Whatever your political affiliation, liberal or conservative, democrat or republican we can all agree that childhood obesity in our country is a serious problem that needs to be addressed.  Through the Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act the USDA, State Board’s of Education across the United States and local districts like Escanaba Area Public Schools have attempted to help raise a healthier generation of school-aged children through programs and initiatives. At Webster Elementary we have attempted to provide healthier breakfast and lunch offerings, walk to school days, closed campuses, the PLAY 60 minutes initiative and a free summer lunch program at our schools and the YMCA. Government and local schools attempting to improve children’s health is nothing new to the United States. Throughout the 19th century, a mass migration took place from the countryside to the urban centers like New York, Chicago and Detroit. At the height of the Industrial Revolution, small family farms were being replaced by large industrialized ones and the refinement of the assembly line by Henry Ford and mass mechanization meant men and children were needed in the factories. However, for many the opportunities in the cities were not as glamorous and fruitful as anticipated and sadly many families, especially children faced despicable poverty, inhumane living conditions, and deficient diets. One way to help these struggling families was through one of the United States Government's first mandated school curriculums, the “School Garden Initiative” of the late 19th/early 20th centuries.  
The Gilded Age and the Teddy Roosevelt Progressive Era were times when gardening became a national craze and when school gardens enjoyed immense popularity. In 1906, the USDA estimated that there were nearly 75,000 school gardens active in the United States. The children were referred to as the US School Garden Army. During this time of reform, educators felt gardening could be a means to teach civic virtues/pride, care of property, economy, honesty, self-government, justice and the love of nature…(Greene) Additionally, school gardens could also help “Americanize” the many immigrant children pouring into our country during this duration.

 

When my grandfather was alive, we would talk  for hours on all things history, in particular, World War II which he was a veteran of.  Given the fact we were both gardeners, every fall we would compare our harvests (by harvest, I mean 12 tomato and green bean plants) and during this time our conversation would eventually lead into the World War II “Food for Freedom” gardening campaign. If you lived during this time, or know someone who did, you would know that it was an extremely altruistic time, full of volunteerism, patriotism and sacrifice something many of that time were and are proud of. The campaign’s success was unequivocal, something like 40% of all fruits and vegetables consumed during this time was produced in the 21 million Victory Gardens leading to the highest percentage of fruits and vegetables in our diet in recent history. Many believe that this program was so successful because so many of the adults participating in the WWII “Victory Gardens” were school children who belonged to the U.S. School Garden Army during World War I! While much of the hype over school gardens simmered following VJ day, the environmental movements of the 1970s and the 1990s brought kids back into school gardens and most recently, at Webster, the efforts of my predecessor, principal and gardening/landscape enthusiast, Mr. Jude VanDamme.

Webster Garden has received several grants over the years for its garden, most coming from the generosity of the Hannahville Indian Community. The Webster grounds were also very fortunate to receive new trees from the Escanaba Sesquicentennial Group. To get our students more active, Webster initiated a program we call the “Wolverine Club”.  This group would meet once a week during 2nd half of the school year. Each week the students would participate in different activities such as karate, yoga, rocket building/engineering and the students favorite...seed planting. With delicate care by the 2nd and 3rd graders and several months of germination on window sills in small peat pots in our classrooms, the Wolverine Club would throw a large party for parents with hot dogs and refreshments and plant their vegetables. Over the years, we have entered many of our vegetables in the UP State Fair and have won several ribbons for our carrots, radishes and blue ribbons for our cabbage plants. At the end of August our garden is picked and the bounty is given to the families of Webster Elementary at our annual Open House which this year is September 2nd from 4:00-5:00. I have to end this blog entry on something Author and Presenter Rick Swan wrote regarding school gardens, “School gardens have the potential to reduce obesity, encourage a healthy lifestyle, reconnect youth with the food system and to build healthier more vibrant communities.” At Webster Elementary, this is something we are working for and will continue to work for!

If you, or someone you know would like to know more about ways to help Webster, it’s garden or students, please feel free to contact me anytime!  

Some material was taken from:

http://kgi.org/blogs/rose-hayden-smith/brief-history-school-gardens

http://rickswann.com/our-school-garden/history-of-school-gardens/

Marie Louise Greene’s Among School Gardens (1910)

Connect with Webster and Your Child

Cale and Grant helping dad in the
Webster Garden

What did you do at school today?
Last year, I would pick my 4-year-old up from preschool and it would be the same thing everyday. I would ask, "what did you do at school today"? His response, "NOTHING"! I would go in his backpack later and find; an alphabet book that he completed, a macaroni statue of his "papa", leftovers from lunch that HE MADE at school, a note about his poor behavior and woodchips from Pioneer Trail Park where he went on a class trip. He did all of that and still told me he did NOTHING! I shouldn't be surprised, I did the same thing to my parents as I am sure you did when you were in school. It is easy to become discouraged and stop asking.
However, research has long shown that the children of parents who become actively involved in their children's education tend to do well in school. Often that increased parental involvement can boost achievement levels, make children more responsible learners, lead to more high school credits, ensure fewer discipline problems and improve student attendance. Taking the time and effort to communicate with us at Webster in a variety of contexts and settings will help to build a relationship with your child, your child's teacher and give you a chance to participate in their education.

Below are 5 ways for you to stay connected to Webster and your child's education.

1. Your Child's Backpack

Chances are you’ll learn about most school news and functions through newsletters and notes your child brings home in their backpack. When they get home from school, ask them to empty their backpack — at least a few times a week — so you can sort through any papers meant for you. Try reading through them with your child. That way, you can talk about all the things going on at school. This will help you remember important events — and let your child know that you are interested in what goes on at school.

2. The World Wide Web (click on link to be connected) 

Eskymos.com will post the latest school news and information. 

Your child's Teacher Blog

Powerschool Announcements

Mr. LeClaire's Blog(your on it) or Twitter

3. The School Newsletter

We will be putting out a newsletter that has all the news for the upcoming month or so. It may come home in your child’s backpack or I can send it to you via email.  If you prefer email, make sure Mrs. Viau in the office has your correct email address so that you can get the newsletter sent right to your email inbox.

4. The School Bulletin Board

When you come into Webster, regularly check the sandwich bulletin board we have set up. Aside from school news and announcements, you may see notices from other groups or parents that interest you.

5. Ask Teacher or Principal 

Feel free to ask me or you child’s teacher at the Open House-September 2nd,  parent-teacher conference-November 12/13th, at pickups or drop-offs, or through email or phone if there are school or classroom events you should know about. If it seems like you’re often missing important information, ask me, Mrs. Viau in the office or the teacher what the best way is to keep informed about school news.

Welcome Letter

Dear Parents, Families, and Friends,

As I begin my first year as principal at Webster Elementary School, I can’t help but get excited about the dedicated and experienced staff I get to work with. Having worked with some in the past, and in talking to former students, community members and parents, I know how hard they work to meet the individual needs of all their students and how they strive to make personal and positive connections with your child.

We encourage you and your family to be active in your child’s education and in the Webster School community! We welcome your family to participate in our school activities, and to support your students at home volunteering in your child’s class, library, joining our active PTO or attending/ supporting school events such as Fall Carnival, Family Movie Night, Skating Night, Story Hour and our music programs. The elementary school years are an amazing and fast paced time for our children and we will work together to build a positive experience for them.

In your child’s folder, you will find many important papers that you will need to fill out including the Student Handbook and Emergency Form. Please take time to go over the Student Handbook with your child. The purpose of the handbook is to provide the policies and procedures for maintaining a safe atmosphere that allows each individual to develop to the best of her/his ability. Please make sure these forms are filled out and returned to your child’s teacher as soon as possible.

Webster Elementary School and the surrounding community is truly a special place to be with a rich and proud background built on benevolence, perseverance and hard work. We will make every effort to continue this fine tradition by providing your child a safe, student-focused atmosphere with high academic and behavioral standards. Together, we will continue to make Webster Elementary Great and ensure that our students have the knowledge and skills to succeed in a changing world.

        

Your Partner in Education,

Craig LeClaire

(906-786-6118)

cleclaire@eskymos.com