The Breakthrough Magnet School Seventh and Eighth grades were visited yesterday by Mary Rickel Pelletier of the Park River Watershed Revitalization Initiative. We talked about stewardship, the role of green architecture, and specifically about our green roof. Following the short presentation, the students went outside onto the roof and continued their stewardship of the environment by weeding the green roof in an attempt to allow their planting from the fall to flourish.

Mr. Dunn, a photographer from the Hartford Courant joined us on the green roof and photographed the students. One of the many pictures taken has been published on Page A3 of the 04/23/2009 Hartford Courant.

You may also find the picture and caption on the Courant’s website or by viewing the following PDF: BMS Green Roof Courant.

Up On The Roof, Pokin Around, 2009-04-23, Stephen Dunn, Hartford Courant

When Mrs. Gustafson was a senior at Concordia College in 1997, there was a big flood in the area and she was able to contribute by helping people sand-bag their houses that were in danger of flood damage.  So after studying Weather and Climate in science last year, and hearing about the Fargo Flood of ’09 that was going on in the news, Mrs. G’s class decided to choose this as their community service project.

Over a couple of months, they were able to collect over 400 toiletry items and school supplies to send to the victims of the flood in Minnesota and North Dakota.  As a result of their efforts, someone from Concordia College wrote up an article about Mrs. G’s class that was posted online, and Mrs. G was interviewed this summer for a show called Lutheran Table Talk that aired on Nutmeg TV in July.

Ms. Gustafson's 5/6 Class

Receiving the Donation