GPISD Outdoor Classroom Newsletter
April 2023
Nature Center
Field Trips
- NSEC's "N is for Nature" program will be held April 24th - April 27th. All GPISD Pre-K 4 classes will be visiting the Nature during this time . Please view lesson information using link below: https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1gGyK61RYVCxs_f_x8umbQKV7QY46-wWX
- Pre-K Teacher Training/Overview will be held Tuesday, April 18th at 4:30pm
Register for Professional Development here:
- YWLA will be visiting on Friday, April 28th.
- Kindergarten field trips will be held May 1st - May 19th. Please view lesson videos using link below: https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1k9aw1p6OQEnNOHchJdeOvZJoJvjDJCT8
A class was able to meet our unexpected visitor from Austin Elementary - Monty the Python!
Find the Gnome
While reading this newsletter keep a look out for the gnome. He likes to hide! If you find him, click on him to register your readership.
A prize package will be awarded to the campus with the most Gnome registrations each month. Encourage your staff to read the newsletter and use it to grow your campus's Outdoor Classroom!
*For GPISD campuses only*
Readership Winner
The campus with the most "Gnome" submissions for March 2023 was Florence Hill.
Congratulations Florence Hill!
The campus will receive a prize for their outdoor classroom.
Campus Spotlight
Austin Elementary
Ms. Simpson from Austin Elementary submitted a selection of 2nd Grade Journaling done during their Nature Center visit.
**If you would like to have your campus garden or a campus event to be a future "Spotlight", please email me at Jovan.Tucker-Holder@gpisd.org or Lindsay Reeves at Lindsay.Reeves@gpisd.org.**
Interns and NHS
Upcoming Green & Clean KGPB
Events and Opportunities
Events
Earth Day Celebration - Saturday, April 15th
Come join us as we celebrate Earth Day! We will have a tree giveaway, exotic animals, environmental education, kid’s crafts and activities, and more!
*Trees will be available while supplies last.*
Saturday, April 15 from 10:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.
Kirby Creek Nature Center, 3303 Corn Valley Rd, Grand Prairie, TX 75052
Keep Grand Prairie Beautiful Award Ceremony
We will be celebrating 2022 accomplishments completed by KGPB volunteers.
There will be a silent auction with proceeds supporting the KGPB Commission Scholarship.
Thursday, April 27th, 2023
Uptown Theater, 120 E Main St
*Invitation Only*
Community Garden Open House and Plant Swap
You are invited to the KGPB Community Garden Open House and Plant Swap on Saturday, April 29th beginning at 9 a.m. at all Community Gardens.
There will be a free hot dog lunch and Plant Swap beginning at 12 p.m. at the Haven Community Garden. Please click on the image below to view additional details and to reserve your lunch ticket.
Additional Events
Gardening in Small Spaces - Saturday, May 6th, 2 p.m. – 3 p.m.
Warmack Library, 760 Bardin Rd
Registration: jrudd@gptx.org
Heat Loving Veggies - Saturday, June 3rd, 2 p.m. – 3 p.m.
Warmack Library, 760 Bardin Rd
Registration: jrudd@gptx.org
Volunteer Opportunities
GP Litter Team at Main Street Fest
Friday, April 21st – Sunday, April 23rd
300 W Main St
Registration: http://bttr.im/i2cc2
Walnut Creek Paddling Trail Cleanup at Loyd Park with Trinity Coalition
Saturday, May 20th, 8 a.m. - 2 p.m.
Registration: http://bttr.im/i2cc2
Adopt-a-Stream at Waggoner Park with Richemont
Saturday, June 3rd, 9 a.m. – 12 p.m.
Registration: http://bttr.im/i2cc2
Grand Prairie Landfill CREW Camp
The Grand Prairie Landfill has four dates available, May 9, 10, 11, and 12. We are looking for two campuses to join us on back-to-back days. Email amaron@gptx.org if your campus is interested in bringing out up to 80 students.
Landfill CREW Camp provides four educational rotations on site at the Grand Prairie Landfill. Students can learn about resource conservation, recycling, alternative energy, and wetland environments. CREW Camp is free and lunch is provided for visiting groups.
Outdoor Classroom Maintenance
Things to do...
April
- Start planting summer annuals. Lantana, pentas, begonias, vinca, and coleus.
- Plant new perennials.
- Mulch all of your garden beds. Mulch reduces water loss by 50%. It also protects against disease.
- Continue planting trees and shrubs.
- Plant summer vegetables.
- By seed: corn, cucumbers, squash, watermelon, and zucchini.
- By transplant: pepper, cucumbers, squash, and zucchini.
May
- Replant garden spaces that have opened up after early harvests.
- For example: Replace garlic and onions with cucumbers, eggplant, peppers, sunflowers, and zinnias.
- Watch tomato foliage for signs of disease (yellow and brown lesions) and remove all diseased leaves. Keeping tomatoes well-pruned will control disease without having to apply fungicides.
- Keep pinching blooms off basil. This encourages branching for a stockier plant that won’t flop over so easily.
- Complete all major plantings before the heat sets in.
- Treat worm and caterpillar damage with BT (Bacillus thuringiensis) but take care to spray early morning or late evening to reduce chance of affecting pollinators.
- Sharpen mower blades.
- Start tomato, eggplant, pepper seeds for fall vegetable transplants at the end of the month.
- Continue planting summer vegetables by seed: black eyed peas, okra, corn, cucumbers, squash, melons, pumpkins, zucchini.
Tools
If you are needing to borrow some tools, please complete the Clean Prairie Beautification Kit Application at the link below.
Social Media
Whenever you share on social media don't forget to use #GPISDECO.
Contacts
Jovan Holder
NSEC Instructional Aide
Email: jovan.tucker-holder@gpisd.org
Location: Natural Science Education Center, Corn Valley Road, Grand Prairie, TX, USA
Phone: 972-522-2539
Lindsay Reeves
NSEC Facilitator
Email: lindsay.reeves@gpisd.org
Website: GPISD.org/nsec
Location: Natural Science Education Center, Corn Valley Road, Grand Prairie, TX, USA
Phone: 972-522-2539
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/GPISDnaturecenter
Twitter: @GPISD_nature
Kasie Roden
Director of STEM PK-12
Email: kasie.roden@gpisd.org
Website: gpisd.org/stem
Location: Dr.Susan I Simpson Education Center, Grand Prairie, TX, USA
Phone: 972-237-4010
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/gpisdSTEM
Twitter: @gpisdSTEM
Amanda Maron
Keep Grand Prairie Beautiful Coordinator
Solid Waste and Recycling Department
Email: amaron@gptx.org
Website: gptx.org/kgpb
Location: Grand Prairie City Landfill, Macarthur Boulevard, Grand Prairie, TX, USA
Phone: 972-237-4546