YAC announces spring Kickstart! grant recipients

Kickstart! mini-grants support the community initiatives of elementary school classrooms. The Youth Advisory Committee (YAC) of the Community Foundation for Kingston & Area is pleased to announce this spring's Kickstart! grant recipients:

Bayridge Public School: Three Sisters Garden, $400
Students from SK+ Gr 6- 8 will plant and maintain a corn, zucchini, squash and pumpkin patch. They will construct a fence to surround the plants, and paint it with murals that connect the project to the native community. In the fall, the students will have a harvest festival to celebrate their efforts.

Bayridge Public School: Compost Program, $240

The Green Team (SK - gr. 8) of Bayridge Public School will set up a compost program at Bayridge Public. In addition to an outdoor compost collector bin, they will have a compost bin in each classroom, and the senior classes would take turns emptying them daily. The greater community will benefit in that the Green Team will educate the children who would take this knowledge home with them.

Joyceville Public School: Acorn Tree Project, $382

Plant 10 large red maple trees between Joyceville Road and the school's ball diamond. Mr. Jeff Scott of Acorn Environmental will dig the holes and the students will plant the trees. Mr. Scott will take care of the trees for the rest of the year. The school grounds and the community ball diamond will benefit by having trees to make a wind break and give shade.

The next Kickstart! grant competition will occur in Fall 2010 and will emphasize school/community interaction. All Limestone District and Algonquin and Lakeshore Catholic District elementary classes are encouraged to start brainstorming for this round! The competition will be posted online and guidelines will be sent to each school - stay tuned for details.