To the delight of four classes of kindergarteners, Alba-Golden Elementary School commissioned a new garden last Wednesday. Gauging from the enthusiasm demonstrated by the youngsters, the new garden is already a big hit.

The four classes were introduced to the new garden Wednesday afternoon. Events included a welcome from the Elementary School Principal Chris Massey, planting of flowers, playing with appropriately-sized construction equipment and enjoying cookies and lemonade on newly-constructed picnic tables.

The kindergarten teachers – Rhonda Clark, Deann Hanson, Teresa Landry and Katie Richardson – shepherded youngsters through the stations. Each activity was a hit with the students, with many of them simply responding with a “thumbs-up” about their new learning area.   

Hanson, who is responsible for the garden, described it as a big part of the mathematics and science curriculum.

She explained, “A lot of our science is hands-on. We introduce things in the classroom and then demonstrate it here.”

She detailed concepts such as capacity, measuring and counting as just some of the learning objectives which will be taught there.

Each kindergarten class will be scheduled for two garden visits per week – one each for math and science. The new garden area is conveniently located between the two elementary school wings on the playground side.

Ashley Gilbreath, a previous kindergarten teacher now instructing first-graders, who had a big hand in creation of the original garden 10 years ago, commented “Watching the kids take their science skills out into the real world and experience shapes, colors, textures is just amazing.”

Hanson and Gilbreath highlighted the donations, grants and community support which created the new garden. 

The kid-sized picnic tables are a good example. C&M Building Supplies of Alba donated the lumber and the high school woodworking class planned and built the tables.  

The children thoroughly enjoyed the initial event. As Hanson noted, “They are comfortable in the classrooms, but when they come out here, its special, so they want to do their very best.”