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Everett students, teachers highlight sensory garden as SEL classroom
Summary
Everett principal Megan Eigenrau and members of the Everett Garden Club described a new sensory and pollinator garden that staff and students use for social-emotional learning and hands-on science; students and volunteers helped design and maintain the space funded by a Spirit of 67 grant and private donations.
Megan Eigenrau, principal at Everett, told the Lake Forest School District 67 board that staff built the sensory and pollinator garden to support social-emotional learning and the district’s portrait of a learner. “Emotional intelligence sets the foundation for our students to understand emotions, and executive functioning sets the foundation for how students manage their emotions,” Eigenrau said.
Catherine Hensley and Shelley Marks, representing the Everett Garden Club, said the garden was intended as an outdoor classroom to engage kindergarten through fourth-grade students through sight, smell, touch, sound and taste. Hensley credited a Spirit of 67 grant and an in-kind donation of hardscape materials and installation from Mariani Landscape. Teacher Suzanne Thomas described the garden as a “living laboratory” that reinforces science curriculum while also supporting emotional regulation and collaboration.
Several Everett students spoke to the board about personal benefits. “I love the garden because it helped me feel better because I water it every day,” said Jackson, a second grader. Fourth-graders Lily and Ren said the garden bolstered confidence, citizenship and provided a memorable ribbon-cutting moment after the renovation.
Superintendent Dr. Montgomery and board members thanked volunteers and partners; a short video of the garden was shown and the students and presenters took a photo with the board. The presentation emphasized both instructional and wellness goals for the space and invited community members to visit the garden.
