Cedar Brook Elementary students, parents and teachers cut the ribbon May 27 on a new “outdoor classroom” at the 2121 Ojeman campus, a community garden with a butterfly and bird habitat for science study and student observation. The community garden was made possible through a $2,000 Toolbox for Education grant to the school by the Lowe’s Charitable and Educational Foundation. The grant was one of about 1,000 awarded to schools or parent organizations during the past year.
During the early morning ribbon-cutting event, campus leaders said that students will benefit from hands-on study trips to the garden, which is planted with native grasses and flowers to attract butterflies and to shelter birds. “Through this grant, Lowe’s recognizes parent-led efforts to enrich the lives of children,” Foundation Chairman Larry Stone said through a corporate news release. “By supporting schools like Cedar Brook Elementary, we believe that we are contributing to a cause that’s important to our customers and employees and helping build a stronger foundation for the children who will be tomorrow’s employees, homeowners and community leaders.”