Henderson Upper School third graders are learning about erosion and beautifying their school grounds this month with the help of the Martin Richard Foundation.

As last year’s second grade class took up the study of erosion with teacher Mary O’Brien, they began to look for signs of the problem right outside their school’s front door. It didn’t take long to find them.

Current third grader Rose Bonina was quick to spot evidence along the Croftland Street school building’s foundation. She suggested it might be a good idea to plant some bushes near the foundation of the school to hold in the soil.

“Mrs. O’Brien took us outside one day and I saw some erosion right in front of the school and I told her it looked like what we had learned – the effects of wind and water on the land,” said eight-year-old Rose. “I thought some plants would bring more of nature into the school and the roots would help keep the soil in place.”

All three second grade classes last year sprang into action and made a checklist of things to do, with Rose leading the way. With O’Brien’s guidance, she called local Garden Centers to determine prices of various plants.

Then, she and her classmates applied to the Martin Richard Foundation’s Bridge Builder program for funding. They asked for just over $300, but the Foundation granted them $500.

“Our Bridge Builder Program is designed to help the next generation learn, grow, and lead. We believe that when young people are taught the values of peace, justice, and kindness, they will lead the way as thinkers, up-standers, and peacemakers in their communities,” said Denise Richard, co-founder of the Martin Richard Foundation.

“We couldn’t be more proud of the second graders at the Henderson who followed a fantastic project check-list in order to beautify their school while learning how to mitigate erosion with new plantings. Congratulations to Rosie, who led the charge and submitted the grant request!”

Gigi, Rosie Bonina, Layla Fernandez-Buehrens, Sofia Golden, Jianna Valmyr, and Devin Sterling stand in front of the mums they planted this year at the Henderson Upper School. Photo by Seth Daniel

First, the class called DigSafe to check on the location where they wanted to plant, making their own white flags to mark the area. Then they used part of the grant money to pay for soil testing, with a sample sent off to UMass Boston for analysis.

Rose said they had studied blueberry bushes in class, and wanted to plant them, but the soil test showed it wouldn’t be a good fit. The class pivoted and ended up planting three Girard’s Fuscia Evergreen Shrubs – one shrub per classroom.

Last June, every student from every class pitched in to properly plant their erosion-avoidance shrubs.

“Everyone had their hands in it, and it was really fun,” said Rose. “I think this was different than most school days because we had so much fun doing this…I think the part that was most exciting for everyone was when they flowered.”

O’Brien said students in Boston Public Schools (BPS) all learn about erosion in science class and apply that knowledge to thinking about how to stop erosion on the north slope of Thompson Island in Boston Harbor.

“Taking that idea, Rose took the concept a little closer to home, to Peabody Slope,” said O’Brien. “They worked very hard on it, and it worked really well in aligning with their reading curriculum.”

With the extra money from the grant, this fall the same students – now in third grade – planted mums in planters at the front of the school.