Three years ago, a committee at Carlyle Elementary School had a vision.
"We wanted the kids to live and breathe character education," said Community School Coordinator Krystal Fehrenbach. "So, how belonging works and how happiness is, and what kindness does, and respect and responsibility. Those types of principles."
After brainstorming ideas, a project came forward. But not just any project. A project focused on incorporating character education and involving the staff, students and community council.
It was then that the "Small Lot of Hope" was born.
The lot stems from a story in the grade two reading curriculum called a Small Lot of Hope. The plot tells the story of two young children growing up in the city. Between the apartment buildings that the two young boys lived, was a small lot. But it was not just any lot. It was a lot where young Jay and Bob would play.
Worried that one day the lot or rather, their play area, would be replaced with a business, the young boys set to turning the lot into a park. They searched high and low and turned what was just another lot into an area filled with flowers, bushes and a bench. What was nothing became something.
The story at Carlyle Elementary School tells a similar story. "We had an abandoned space on our school yard and we wanted to make it a place that we could use," said Fehrenbach. "A space that families could use, and that the community could use."
From there, a drawing of the space was provided to each and every class at the elementary school. Each grade visited the space and took to brainstorming ideas of what they would like to see in the space, and ways to make the area a better space.
Fast forward three years and that is exactly what the students have helped to do. The committee brought in a horticulturist to determine what types of plants would be appropriate for the space given the amount of sun.
The space is now full with trees and bushes, flowers and gardens, a sandbox and pathways. On the side of a shed is a brilliantly coloured mural completed through a partnership with Cornerstone Family and Youth. A rubberized pad full of tables adds to the usability of the space.
"Each year, the kids do projects for the lot," said Fehrenbach. "Classes and teachers have been working on it continuously with different projects. Each classroom did a stepping stone in 2009. We received some grants for trees and added those to the space. In 2010, we did pathways and gardens and a sandbox was done as well. And this past summer, the mural was completed."
"We have had a number of funders come forward to help us with this project so far, but there are still things that we would like to do to complete the space. The Saskatchewan Scrap Tire Corporation did the pavement pad made from recycled tires."
"The SCC has done a lot of work for the lot. We had funding from Enbridge, the Town of Carlyle Sask Lotteries Fund, and Access Communications Children's Fund. SaskEnergy helped out with a work bee and SaskPower Greenhouse provided funding for trees."
"We've had financial support from Southeast Connection and the local Lions has provided money for it. The elementary SCC provided funds and G.F.K. high school contributed as well. Don McMullen provided support, Bedecs donated sand for our sandbox, and Chapman's Electric has volunteered time and equipment. So, we have had really great support so far."
Make sure to stop by and take a look at the Small Lot of Hope. Pack a picnic and have lunch at the tables or stop by for a play in the sandbox. Take a look at pathways and the artwork on the paved stone. And if you are looking for more information on the project or would like to get involved, feel free to contact Krystal Fehrenbach at 453-2098.
