St. Matthew Garden

Heather Huscher
Posted on June 5, 2014 in News

Students at St. Matthew Catholic School in Topeka (one of 21 CEF schools) marked the end of the school year with a rosary and prayer service in their new outdoor rosary garden, which is part of an outdoor learning environment the school is creating in collaboration with the St. Matthew Garden Club and school alumnus Carson Scheer, who is assisting as part of an Eagle Scout project. During the prayer service, Fr. Jerry Volz blessed the rosary garden, which includes a statue of St. Francis presented to the school as a class gift from the 2014 school graduates.  

The school’s Faith in Action students created the walking rosary garden, using large stepping stones and benches at each decade. A statue of the Blessed Mother will be the centerpiece of the new garden, which is funded by memorial donations in honor of St. Matthew parishioners. 

The new outdoor space also includes a vegetable garden, butterfly garden, and flower and herb gardens. Students planted the vegetable garden in April and harvested it at the end of the school year. During that process, they learned about preparing the soil, properly planting seeds, and maintaining a garden. They also learned about the nutritional value of the vegetables they planted and completed lessons on healthy eating.  

In addition, students planted herbs and tulip bulbs, and observed their growth over time. They will do the same with a pumpkin patch in the garden this fall. The gardens also will include bird houses, feeders and bird baths to allow students to observe and study migratory birds, and bushes and flowers to attract butterflies for observation and study. Students will help maintain the garden throughout the year. 

St. Matthew Catholic School received two grants from local community organizations to help fund the gardens and the related projects. 

Heather Huscher

Heather Huscher is principal of St. Matthew School in Topeka.

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