CCSD21 partners with Hands-On Chicago and Discover

Posted October 10, 2013 8:39 am

Submitted by Community Consolidated School District 21

Third-graders Sheila M. (left) and Sharlyn C. dig up grass to expand the heart-shaped flower bed in front of Kilmer Elementary School on Friday, Sept. 27. Courtesy of District 21

Kilmer Elementary School partnered with Hands-On Chicago and Discover Financial Services to provide an authentic learning experience for students through the development and completion of a beautification project focused on improving the Kilmer school grounds.

Discover Financial Services provided approximately 65 volunteers on Friday, Sept. 27, to help create a butterfly garden designed by 2012-2013 second-grade students, enhance existing landscaping, and spend time within the classroom sharing thoughts on the importance of community helpers and leaders. Hands-On Chicago also provided volunteers and supplies for the project.

As part of the ongoing learning experience, now-current third-graders were able to share their research about butterflies to a panel of adults, which included a landscape architect (Kilmer parent), an owner of a landscaping company, and a member of Hands-On Chicago, as well as Kilmer’s principal, learning coach and head custodian.

“Our students have many ideas to share and through this project, Kilmer’s students are able to make lasting contributions to our school,” said Principal Diana O’Donnell.

Discover Financial Services helped make the students’ ideas come to life. Over $2,000 was provided to create a butterfly garden, improve a heart-shaped flower bed, mulch all of the existing landscape beds, paint bike racks and benches and add cougar paw prints to the path leading to the entrance of Kilmer School.

Before starting their work, Discover’s volunteers viewed an iMovie made by Kilmer students about their butterfly research and then the teams started their projects.

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A volunteer from Discover Financial Services works to expand the heart-shaped flower bed in front of Kilmer Elementary School with the help of third-graders Sheila M. (left) and Sharlyn C. Courtesy of District 21

A volunteer from Discover Financial Services works to expand the heart-shaped flower bed in front of Kilmer Elementary School as third-grader Sharlyn C. removes excess sod. Courtesy of District 21

Christian O., a fifth-grader at Kilmer Elementary School, works to make space for a butterfly garden in front of the school on Friday, Sept. 27. Courtesy of District 21

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