On Friday, June 16, 2008, Oak Park Elementary School celebrated the dedication of their new water-wise garden.

Principal Antonio Viramontes welcomed the entire school, many parents and even some local dignitaries to the dedication ceremony.  He acknowledged everyone who participated in bringing the garden to life and shared how the garden came to be.

The garden was the inspiration of teacher Shannon Bowling.  Earlier this year, she applied for and was awarded a grant through the Chino Basin Water Conservation District, Inland Empire Utilities Agency, and Fontana Water Company as part of their "Garden in Every School" program.

The purpose of the "Garden in Every School" program is to educate the school family and community about wise-water usage through a garden landscape, featuring drought-tolerant plants and efficient irrigation methods.  The grant is valued at $4000 in materials, including plants, soil, bark, irrigation supplies, garden tools, and curriculum materials.

Bowling quickly recruited fellow teacher Kathryn White to help her lead up the project at Oak Park.  FUSD's Maintenance and Operations department came in and cleared out a piece of ground that was previously home to some patchy grass.  Once the land was cleared, White and Bowling enlisted just about everyone at the school to help level the site with soil provided through grant.  Then, once the contractor (also provided through the grant) completed the installation of the irrigation system, the teachers and students began planting flowers and vegetables.

Which brings us back to the present and the dedication ceremony.  Just as the students at Oak Park participated in making the garden a reality, the students also shared in the performing the festivities.  The kindergarten classes sang songs, such as "The Gardener Plants the Seeds" and "Two Pumpkins Seeds."  The first grade classes sang "A Flower Pops Out" and "I will Plant a Garden."  The fifth graders recited poems "Plants Need Water, Plants Need Sun" and some original works, as well.

After the ceremony, Oak Park's student leadership gave tours of garden.  Principal Viramontes said he was very proud of Oak Park's new garden and the students for helping to make the teachers' dream a reality and that he hoped the students would remember even many years from now that this will always be their garden.

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