Grant Makes School’s Greenhouse Place Where Classroom Meets Earth

WEST CAPE MAY – The West Cape May Elementary School held a ribbon-cutting ceremony for the newly-built greenhouse Feb. 8. 
West Cape May resident, Dr. Inga La Puma is the science communications director for the North Atlantic Fire Science Exchange. La Puma spearheaded the greenhouse project and put the event together. The greenhouse, or “outdoor classroom” as La Puma calls it, came about when she first got wind of Sustainable Jersey for Schools, a statewide certification program for public schools that want to “go green” and conserve resources.
A self-proclaimed advocate for “incorporating experiential education into STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) curricula,” La Puma applied for a $10,000 grant through the program to build the school a greenhouse.
The grant was approved in the fall of 2016. Shortly after the approval there was a “school-wide workday where parents, staff, and students built most of the greenhouse frame in one afternoon,” said La Puma in her remarks at the ceremony.
La Puma also stressed that it was a team effort and thanked the school’s Green Team as well as parent and project contractor Bob Shepanski. 
La Puma noted the greenhouse is essential for teaching students about the water cycle, nutrient cycling, plant health, temperature and humidity monitoring, botanical art, and business.
“Fifth and sixth graders will be in the business of selling veggie and herb starts while fourth graders will be doing hydroponics,” she said. “We hope that having the greenhouse will inspire the students and staff to use it for various projects … maybe even some science projects.”
There will also be a Mother’s Day daisy sale of flowers that will be grown in the greenhouse.
Cape May’s former mayor Edward Mahaney Jr., who attended, is a Sustainable Jersey Board of Trustees member.
Mahaney supports the greenhouse and cut the ceremonial ribbon with Chief School Administrator and Superintendent Dr. Alfred Savio.
“These grants are really competitive,” Mahaney told the Herald. “This greenhouse really has a universal addition to the curriculum. And the model fits in really nicely with the school. I think it’s terrific.”
The sun was shining, and the temperature was 65 degrees in West Cape May at noon when the ceremony began.
“We really couldn’t have asked for a better day,” said Salvio.
To contact Bryon Cahill, email bcahill@cmcherald.com.