GBW has been working with the Urban Forestry Division to plant new trees around our campus! Today, several of our classes planted 8 new trees!  We planted 3 American Elm trees and 3 Black Gum trees along the sidewalks out back behind the library, and we planted 2 White Oak Trees along the blacktop near Panda Park. In total planted over 30 trees in the last two years, and we still have about 6 more trees to plant in the spring! 

Thank you again Urban Forestry Division for donating all of these free trees- they are so beautiful and we are so proud of our school grounds and our community! 

Additionally, GBW has been chosen to recieve a Pollinator Meadow by the Revitalize, Restore, and Replant (R3) Program. 

The Watershed Education and Outreach program from the Fairfax County Stormwater Management came to GBW to help talk to our students about the R3  program.  The Revitalize, Restore, Replant! (R3) program transforms existing stormwater facilities (like bioretentions, dry ponds, and yard inlets) or areas of need around storm drain inlets on Fairfax County Public School (FCPS) campuses into outdoor classrooms. At no cost to schools, county ecologists introduce students to stormwater and watershed ecosystem management and lead a hands-on native plant installation. Plant species are chosen to complement existing programs of study, allowing plantings to be used as outdoor teaching tools for all grade levels.

The Watershed Education and Outreach team that came to GBW today, helped us to plant two Pollinator Meadows (one inside the courtyard and a second one near the playground).  A meadow is an open area of land vegetated with native grasses and wildflowers. These plants provide food and habitat to a wide range of wildlife, including pollinator species like the Monarch Butterfly and the honeybee.  Meadows improve water quality in local streams and the Chesapeake Bay by acting as natural filters, absorbing pollutants and stormwater runoff. Unlike turf grass, native plants have deep root systems that create open spaces in the soil which allow water to soak into the ground instead of flowing over land. Meadows provide many other benefits such as groundwater recharge and erosion control and require less maintenance than turf grass.  We want to share a big thank you to our friends from the Fairfax County Stormwater Management for coming out to help us with this amazing planting project today!  We are excited to enjoy our new beautiful pollinator meadows and we are equally excited to take better care of our environment.