Columbia Elementary School Principal Jason Snyder, left, and first-grade teacher Nichaela Rock, right, stand near the newly planted pollinator garden at the school.

Text and Photos
By Libby Hubbard
InkFreeNews

ROCHESTER — Columbia Elementary School’s first graders are gaining hands-on lessons in gardening and environmental stewardship through a pollinator habitat that started with a grant from the Fulton County Soil and Water Conservation District.

Principal Jason Snyder said Soil and Water Conservation Executive Director Megan Malott approached the school about applying for funding to promote pollinator awareness in local schools.

“I wrote a letter of support to Megan, and she submitted the grant, and we got the grant,” Snyder said. “It paid for Be Smart School Kits with pre- and post-tests, lesson plans, materials, and resources to start a pollinator habitat.”

The project began in 2022, dedicated in memory of Melissa Lynn Ousley-Belpedio, with planting starting the following year.

A dedicated memorial plaque stands on the fence behind the memorial garden, honoring local heroes and community members.

“This is our third year,” Snyder said. “The students get out there and plant the stuff. They’ve done a great job.”

First-grade teacher Nichaela Rock leads the effort.

“Part of our curriculum is called ‘knowledge,’” Rock said. “One of the units is about habitats. We talk about how some animals are going extinct and what we can do to help. That’s how we tie it into the pollinator garden.”

Rock grows most of the plants with her mother in her home near Warsaw.

“We start them from seed every year,” she said. “Part of them are native, and some are annuals like zinnias and French marigolds.”

In May, first-grade teachers organize planting days.

“They just kind of bring me out groups of students, and I bring in all the plants from my house,” Rock said. Students learn to identify seedlings, dig proper holes, cover the plants, and water them.

Snyder said the program is planting more than flowers — it’s planting future skills.

“They learn more than just the pollinator part,” he said. “Mrs. Rock teaches them how to plant the plants. I think it’s hopefully going to help with future Fulton County farmers.”

The garden has become a source of pride.

“I’ve heard it from teachers, parents, and staff,” Snyder said. “One staff member emailed me pictures of butterflies out there. It just made her day.”

The project continues to blossom each year, giving students practical skills, a connection to nature, and an early appreciation for conservation.

For Columbia Elementary, the pollinator garden has become both a living classroom and a symbol of how small hands can make a lasting difference.