Help Carroll Gardens School For Innovation's Campaign To Publish A Green Roof Curriculum Guide

In the spring of 2011, a brand new roof garden was installed at the Samuel Mills Sprole school building at 317 Hoyt Street, between Union and President Streets. It was a great occasion for the school and  I had the great pleasure to be present at the very first planting session. It was wonderful to see students of Carroll Gardens School for Innovation MS442, which is housed in the school building, carefully transplant the vegetable and herb seedlings they had started in the classroom to the raised beds on the roof.
It was wonderful to see the students connect to nature and to take such pride in this garden.

Recently, Carroll Gardens School for Innovation partnered with two other schools to put together a Green Roof Curriculum Guide to make it easier for others to provide this amazing opportunity to their students.
For that purpose, the three schools have started a fundraising campaign.
Here is more from Corrine Contrino, parent coordinator at Carroll Gardens School for Innovation MS442.

"Carroll Gardens School for Innovation, MS 442, is partnering with two other schools in the city to publish a Green Roof Curriculum Guide. We are currently running an indiegogo campaign, looking for funders for the publication. I am wondering if you would invite your readers to visit the link to find out more about this project.

We hope this book will make the process easier for other schools to incorporate green roof projects into all major content areas, giving students an interesting and practical purpose for their learning as well as opening up new career ideas for them. The other schools are PS 41 in Greenwich Village (an elementary school) and Bronx Design and Construction Academy (a high school)."  

The online fundraising campaign ends soon, but if you would like to contribute, you can get in touch with Corrine Contrino at ccontrino@ms442.org) or send donations directly to the school (Carroll Gardens School for Innovation - MS 442, 317 Hoyt Street, to Corine's attention).

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MS 442's Drama Club Invites To Its Musical Production Of 'Guys And Dolls, Junior!'

The students of Middle School 442's Drama Club have put together a production of "Guys & Dolls, Jr." which they will be performing on Friday, May 20 and on Saturday, May 21 at 7:00 p.m. They are inviting everyone in the community to come. Tickets are $5 each.

Guys And Dolls, Junior!

Friday, May 20 or Saturday, May 21 at 7:00 p.m.

MS442 Auditorium

317 Hoyt Street, Brooklyn

(between President and Union Streets)

Featuring:
Frank Althaibani, Anthony Cimino, Amir Elsaeidy, Viviana Flores-Juarez, Zayna Gamble, Stephanie Gomez, Akeisha Hale, Alizette Llanos, Emma Miele, Sage Ortiz, Fern Robertson, Nakiah Sutton, Luz Tehuitzil, Alexandria Tucker, Maria Valentin

Book by
Jo Swerling & Abe Burrows

Music & Lyrics by
Frank Loesser

Set Design & Construction Team:
Ashley Arellano, Karli Batignani, Crystal Gomez, Matthew Negron, Amber Phillips, Chris Proscia, Isaiah Vazquez

Lighting Technician:
Matisse Edmonds

Assistant Lighting Technician:
Sky Asia Thompson

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'Race To Nowhere" To Be Screened At MS442

On Thursday, May 19th, Middle School 442 will be screening 'Race To Nowhere,' Vicki Abeles' critical look at today's education system and the relentless pressure to succeed that our students are exposed to every day. The event is hosted by Children First Network 308.

The Washington Post praises the movie as "a growing grass-roots phenomenon" and the New York Times calls it a "must-see."

Race To Nowhere:

The Dark Side Of America's Achievement Culture

May 19th at 5 PM

At MS 442

317 Hoyt Street

Tickets available here

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Planting A New Roof Garden At MS 442 On Hoyt Street

Samuel Mills Sprole school building on Hoyt Street

Getting the roof ready (photo courtesy of MS 442)

Dirt being lifted onto roof (photo courtesy of MS 442)

The roof garden this morning. The Center area is planted with native plants.

Students with young tomato plants.

Garden gloves for everyone

Science teachers Jason James and Maureen Anderson

giving advice as the students plant tomatoes

MS 442 Principal Deanna Sinito with students

I couldn't think of a better way of starting this sunny day than with the 7th graders at MS 442 on their brand new roof garden at the Samuel Mills Sprole school building at 317 Hoyt Street, between Union and President Streets.

This was a long awaited moment. The Middle Schoolers had started vegetable and herb seedlings in the classroom a few weeks ago, and now it was time to plant them outdoors in the raised planting beds on the second floor roof garden, which has just recently been completed with the generous help of Lowe's Corporation, Citizens Committee for New York City, Harefield Road, Architect Jean Miele and others.

The planting project involves all of the 200 students at MS442 and science teachers Maureen Anderson, Christine Bahringer, and Jason James. Under their supervision, the children had laid out their vegetable garden carefully, deciding beforehand where the tomatoes, broccoli, collards, basil, and oregano plants should be placed. The edible garden will be planted around the outer edges of the planting area for easy access. The central planting area is reserved for native, self-sustaining perennials, such as columbines, flax and coreopsis.

It was a real pleasure to see the kids so exited. MS 442 Principal Deanna Sinito looked on proudly as her charges excitedly dug in the dirt. It was clear that this rooftop and garden meant a lot to her, her teachers and staff, but most importantly, to the kids.

To everyone at MS442, thanks for allowing me to be part of this day. And please invite me back when you harvest the first crop.

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