On December 11th, students and staff came together and completed a new addition to WMC’s campus, Central’s very own rain garden! About a year and a half ago, WMC superintendent Dr. Sargent took a tour around our building and noticed an empty space that has gone unused for years. This empty space is located off the side of the bistro ramp behind the school’s art room. Dr. Sargent approached Mr. Rymer about an idea of a possible use for this courtyard. She put Mr. Rymer in contact with Rutgers Cooperative Extension Water Resource Program. This is a program that takes unused spaces from schools and various public areas and turns them into rain gardens. The work began early this school year. This rain garden will act as a new courtyard for students to enjoy during the day and will double as a place for events to be held.
Students from Rutgers visited Central to assist in the building of this new rain garden. When its construction was first underway, members of the WMC staff Mrs. Najjar and Mr. Kling brought student volunteers out to the courtyard to assist in creating what is now the completed rain garden. With the help of staff and students they were able to plant 158 native species donated by Rutgers. Mrs. Najjar has made plans with her students to
create a mural on the back wall of the courtyard that will feature an NJ wildlife theme consisting of both native plants and animals. Seek photo of mural sketch] A WMC alumni Scott Kirk who owns a landscaping company by the name of Earth Turf & Blooms, Inc. brought in machinery to assist in this project.
As of December 11th the new raingarden is complete and has been collecting rain. However, Mr. Rymer has contacted Kirk in an interest of expanding this project further. The further details consist of a gravel border surrounding the outside of the rain garden, as well as a patio going around the courtyard with an additional stage for events. However all of these great new things are still just possibilities. Mr. Rymer states “ I am hopeful that the rest of the courtyard upgrade can occur this winter to be ready for staff, students, and visitors to enjoy this spring.”
