Growing Together: Families Unite for a Sustainable Future at Garden Clean-up Day

The Day School recently hosted a successful, fun-filled family Garden Clean-Up Day, attended by almost 50 volunteers. Families from all divisions came together to learn about nature and the importance of sustainability at St. Patrick’s and beyond.

Families eagerly worked to prepare the garden for the upcoming season, taking on tasks such as weeding and pruning. Some students arrived with their own containers, determined to gather cucamelons and take home as many as possible. Volunteers were able to collect a variety of fresh summer produce, including basil, squash, cucumbers, peppers, tomatoes, and, of course, cucamelons.

In addition to the gardening efforts, students and families worked together to remove logs from the garden, which were repurposed into a log habitat, providing a winter shelter for animals. During their work, students discovered leopard slugs and bess beetles, eyes wide with excitement.  

A special moment came when Head of School, Jalene Spain Thomas, was introduced to a Northern Brown Snake by two older students who taught her how to safely and calmly interact with the reptile.

A few minutes later, a parent found another snake, and in a spontaneous lesson, she more confidently introduced some younger students to the snake and explained how to interact with the animal respectfully. The snake quickly became a favorite among the students and was affectionately named "Patrick" before being released back into its habitat.

A big shoutout to our incredible Parent Sustainability Team co-chairs, Arianna Ugliano and Rima Toukan, for their superb organization and for making this day a tremendous success!

Keeping with the theme of sustainability, St. Patrick’s was incredibly honored to receive a feature in HillRag Magazine’s 2024 Fall Education issue, highlighting the valuable role the garden plays in our school community. Along with representatives from other DC schools, Sam Mason, Assistant Head of Lower School and Director of Sustainability, was interviewed for an article titled “School Gardens Encourage Overall Learning.” In addition to delving into the history behind the St. Patrick’s Garden, the piece also mentions the Day School’s recent receipt of the Department of Education’s Green Ribbon Award for exceptional commitment to sustainability. 

Read the full HillRag Magazine article here and more about the Green Ribbon Award here!