Franklin Middle School's Green Legacy: A Journey Through a Green Campus

Franklin Middle School has a rich history of nurturing green spaces and fostering environmental awareness among its students. Over the past two decades, various initiatives have transformed our campus into a thriving ecosystem of diverse plant life. Let's take a stroll through our green spaces and discover the stories behind them.

A Legacy of Green Initiatives

Our journey begins in the library, where plants brought in by a former librarian continue to thrive under the care of our current librarian Mrs. Ruffle. These plants serve as a living testament to the early efforts to bring nature indoors at Franklin.

Urban Gardening Club: Pioneers of Vertical Gardening

A few years ago, the student-led Urban Gardening Club pitched an innovative idea to the principal. The result? Two cedar vertical garden walls now grace our school entrance, showcasing an array of plants and demonstrating the possibilities of urban gardening. Today these are maintained, like many of the plants in this piece, by Mr. Ferko, a 19 year science teacher at Franklin.

Collaborations with Fairfax County

Pollinator's Garden

In collaboration with Fairfax County Stormwater Management's Revitalize, Restore, Replant (R3) Program, the Urban Gardening Club established a pollinator's garden outside of the blue pod. This garden not only beautifies our campus but also supports local ecosystems.

Rain Garden

The Stormwater Management team also contributed to our green spaces by planting a rain garden in the corner of the parking lot at the front of the bus loop. This garden helps manage stormwater runoff while adding to the biodiversity of our campus.

Get2Green Eco Club: Transforming Our Front Yard

Our newly formed Get2Green Eco Club has made significant strides in enhancing our school's green spaces:

1. Raised Bed Garden: With support from various sources, including after-school funds, FCPS Get2Green Program, and a donation from Chantilly's Lowe's, the club installed and planted five metal raised beds in front of the school.
2. Flagpole Area: The area around our flagpole now boasts beautiful bulbs and mums, adding a splash of color to our entrance.
3. Tree Planting: In collaboration with Fairfax County Urban Forestry Department, seven trees were planted next to the retention pond fence, creating a new outdoor learning area.

Greening Our Office and Classrooms

The Eco Club has also focused on bringing nature indoors. By propagating cuttings from existing school plants, they've provided many teachers with green companions for their classrooms. This is also the case in our wonderful front office. Cynthia and Kathy have been keeping the great plants alive and thriving in our front office for years. They really enhance the place and make it more welcoming!

Honoring Our Community

Our green spaces also serve as living memorials:

• Gander's Garden: A raised bed near the yellow pod exits, dedicated to a former colleague.
• Memorial Trees: Two trees planted in memory of another colleague, located next to the blacktop.
• Art Classroom Garden: A raised bed outside the Art classroom continues to flourish under our care.

As you walk through our campus, take a moment to appreciate the diverse plant life around you. Each garden, tree, and indoor plant tells a story of community effort, environmental stewardship, and the enduring legacy of Franklin Middle School's commitment to nurturing both nature and young minds.