Sope Creek ES Earns Grants

The  Environmental Education Committee recently announced it was awarded two grants totaling $6000 during the 2011-2012 school year.

In January 2012, Sope Creek Elementary was awarded $5,000 from the Lowe's Charitable and Educational Foundation. This grant from Lowe’s Toolbox for Education will be used to create a large Children’s Learning Garden to be built on the southwest end of the campus. 

"The school is currently adding a new classroom building,” says Sope Creek Elementary principal, Martha Whalen. “We are thrilled with how this grant will enhance our curriculum and add to the new look the campus is taking on.”

The Sope Creek Environmental Committee’s long range master plan for the Children’s Learning Garden includes construction of a greenhouse and an outdoor classroom to inspire a love of nature and encourage responsibility for caring for the earth.

Sope Creek Education Committee grant writer Anne Rood explains, “This generous grant from Lowe’s will make it possible for us to create a wonderful, vibrant, outdoor learning experience for our children.” She adds, “It will enhance the many subjects we can teach in that space, including science, nutrition, environmental education, social studies, math and art.”

A second grant of $1,000 was awarded in November 2011 by the Keep Cobb Beautiful program, a local, non-profit committed to improving environmental management and education.

This grant money will be used to renovate and improve Sope Creek’s butterfly garden atrium and is expected to attract the widest variety of butterflies at a public school in the county and perhaps even the state.

Monies will also provide beds, soil, sculptures and up to 20 different perennial plants, such as Hibiscus, Dill, Lantana and even Dwarf Zinnias.