school yard turns green Deana Lancaster News Reporter deana@nsnews.com WHEN students at Ecole Pauline Johnson were given drawings of their school and told to surround them with their ideal school grounds, some colored in waterslides, carnival rides and arcade games. Most of them drew trees. The West Vancouver schoul grounds had long been the site of an asphalt- based playground and dusty gravel field. The school community agreed the space had potential for much morc. Students, teachers and parents felt that the planting of trees and plants would help them learn about Jandscap- ing and the care of native plant species. The result would be a shady place to play and learn. “Ir scems like an obvious idea,” said parent) and == Learning Grounds Committee member Gabriele Sinclair. “Why does all the learning have to hap- -penin the school?” The germination of the school grounds project began when some of the students formed an enviroimental club. One of the first things they did was to plant a butterfly garden around a Asphalt and gravel make way for nature in West Van school sign. From there, they applied for and received a grant to plant six cherry trees along the edge of the playing field. The Learning Grounds project was born. Since then, a Learning Grounds Master Plan was designed by landscape architect Stephen Sinclair. Student, parene and teacher volun- teers have added an outdoor chess board and a “Grand Allée,” a shady walkway of trees and benches. The students planted thyme around the base of the tees in the allée, to help retain moisture. most recent project, funded by a provincial Action 2] grant, is the reha- bilitation of the woods on a bank at the north end of the playground. Over the past few months, students have measured the slope, studied the surface soil, observed and identified plants and wildlife, taken soil core sam- ples and measured the area — skills that are tvpicaily learned in university. “We try to find ways to make it part of the curriculum,” said parent Kate Q” Mara. Althougk it requires the use of their math and science skills, the students seem to enioy the work. In May, the parents and students filled the arca with native trees and undergrowth, and “they worked all morning and right through recess and lunch,” said parent Jackie Frioud. ‘The work stabilized the slope, and will attract wildlife and provide a natural environment for the children to learn about the coastal rainforest ecosystem. A winding pathway through the woods provide access. Support from the community -— including the trees donated by Maple Leaf Gardens — has been critical to the of the project. In fact, committee members are hop- ing the school’s immediate neighbors will be willing to lend a hand over the summer. Because the native woods are so young, they'll need tending and watering this summer, and with school out it will be rougher to find gardening volunte Pauline Johnson is not the first school to take on such a project. The Learning Grounds program is spear- headed by the Evergreen Foundation in B.C. It encourages students, parents, and teachers to transform some of their school grounds inte educational resources. Vendor approved after second try Catherine Barr Contributing Writer after meeting, and only moments ¢. denying Diligenti’s likely change. mpted vendors, will most Coun. Allan Williams, who ed the motion and suggested that the Horseshoe Bay area should be given a special des- “PEPE Diligenti is a happy guy. ; he young entrepreneur has: been granted an exemp- tion to West Vancowver’s food peddling policy and can now ‘pursue his. plans to start’a ‘vending cart business selling :. coffee and baked goods in the Horseshoe Bay area. Previously, council had turned down Diligenti’s request. According to council, this was due to the fact thar the current peddling policy in ‘ West. Vancouver only allows for the sale of ice cream, soft nks-and popcorn from ‘a ‘vending cart ’-— not coffee, nd-not baked goods. However, | vote by at the same | request, council voted in favor of approving a policy exemp- tion for a similar food vending business which sells hor dogs. Diligenti left the mecting puzzled, but said he would be pursuing the issue further in hopes of eventually appealing to what he described as coun- cil’s better sense of louie and good nature. His diligence has since paid off. On June 8. Mayor Pat Boname. broke the tie supporting the motion allowing Dikigenti to conduct business in the arva for a period cading Oct. 31, 1998. Council will be reviewing the entire peddling policy and warns that the situation as it exists. this year, for both aoa POYNER “Free initial Consultation 988-6321 408-145 Chadwick Court N. Van. 1998 BLOWOUT SALE ON NOW, Rear wheel drive “