With the help of the PCSGD, Notre-Dame school is undertaking the ecological landscaping of their schoolyard. Plans and specific approaches are based on the tools elaborated by the PCSDG ecological landscaping program.
Ecological gardening
Since 2011, students and staff at the school are committed to maintaining the ecological flowerbed in front of the school. Several students and staff members have taken on the task of weeding and planting the flowerbed. In 2018, grade 7 and 8 students planted 15 shrubs in the flower bed, added mulch, and added a trail made of wood chips.
An incredible mural adorns the entrance, created by students under the direction of Monette Léger. Two plant boxes were added by students from the environment workshop. In 2017, students added tulip bulbs to the boxes.
Tree Planting
Gary Schneider, director of the Macphail Woods Ecological Forestry Project visited the school in 2011 and kick-started the process of adding native trees and shrubs to various areas of the schoolyard. An islet of trees was added in 2017, through a partnership with Tree Canada and the New Brunswick Environmental Network to commemorate Canada 150 celebrations.
School Tree Nursery
In October 2017, the PCSDG worked with 4th-grade students and their teacher, Sylvie Donelle, as well as 7th and 8th-grade students and their teacher, Carole Bourgeois, as part of its School Tree Nursery project. Firstly, students installed and filled two gardening bins with soil in the school yard, mixed with compost from Cocagne Landscaping. Around fifteen 4th-grade students, and twenty 7th and 8th-grade students, planted 90 trees : 20 balsam firs, 10 white pines, 20 black spruces, 25 red oaks and 15 yellow birches. Finally, the students spread two rye straw bales, from Fleur du pommier of Cocagne, to protect the trees. In the fall of 2019, the PCSDG worked with approximately 45 students and three teachers in grades 6, 7 and 8. The students planted 70 trees: 11 balsam fir, 10 white pine, 25 spruce, 5 hemlock, 1 red oak, 2 red maple and 16 yellow birch. The 70 trees will absorb around 700 kg of CO2 per year. Planting activities are part of the Young Stewards for Sustainability project.
Vegetable Garden
In 2019, students from grades 6, 7 and 8 planted a vegetable garden. Several families helped to maintaing the garden during the summer. Students harvested beans, potatoes and carrots.
Video capsule
In October 2023, with the assistance of students from Notre-Dame School, the GDDPC created an educational video capsule. This learning session was hosted by Serge LaRochelle, Environmental and Sustainable Development Manager of the Rural Community of Beausoleil. The nursery will contain indigenous plants that are more suited and resilient to the climate of our region compared to non-native plants. These plants will serve as a reserve for future naturalization projects.
Acknowledgements
The project is made possible thanks to funding from Environment Canada’s Eco-Action Community Fund, the New Brunswick Environmental Trust Fund, the New Brunswick Wildlife Trust Fund and Evergreen Canada. The PCSDG would like to thank the District scolaire francophone Sud for supporting the project.
