Grand Junction High School students have taken initiative to improve the special education garden.
GJHS juniors Allyandra Herrera and Abigail Swimley, along with senior Quilcene Colwell, are working to implement a successful renovation of the current special education garden, whose entrance is located under the main stairway on the first floor.
According to Colwell, the special education classroom experienced water damage due to recent issues regarding the irrigation system, which was put in place before there were plans to have a garden in that area. GJHS special education teacher Jourdan DeVencenty and science teacher Chelsea Kraniak, who also acts as a co-teacher of the academy time Agents of Change, saw this and took it into their own hands.
Agents of Change acts as an opportunity for students to implement service learning projects into a community of their choosing, whether that is at a local or national level. Agents of Change helps students, similar to Colwell, Swimley, and Herrera, implement their ideas by providing them with the resources and funds when needed.
Kraniak approached Colwell with an idea to redo the current garden and irrigation system, and they worked together to solidify plans. According to Colwell, the students will work to rebuild the garden to hold a variety of activities for the special needs students. They will have the opportunity to interact with different senses such as smell, taste, and texture.
“There is also a lot of room to improve with the features it currently has,” said Colwell.
The students plan to include a small fountain that will be safe for people to touch as a way to involve both auditory and tactile senses. They also have plans to include a music wall and windchimes for auditory input.
“We are hoping to make it a safe spot where they can mostly get away from the loud noises of the building,” said Swimley, who has hopes to grow scented plants like basil and lavender, as well as textured plants to engage the students.
Funding for the new sensory garden is currently unclear. Colwell has expressed her plan to apply for the Agents of Change fund that is available to all students in the academy needing money for their capstone projects. There is the possible opportunity to organize a fundraiser in the future if needed.
“Our end goal is to create a positive and calming environment for the special needs students to enjoy and be able to get out of the classroom,” said Herrera.
The official timeline for when this project will take place and be complete is currently unclear due to it being the early stages of their planning. The students and staff members planning the project will hold periodic meetings to map out the specific details as the plans become more clear.
