The Horticulture Program at Parkside High Career & Technical Education (CTE) started the school year with a major celebration the first week, cutting the ribbon to open its new greenhouse. Students, staff from the school and school system, and many community partners then joined together for a record-setting planting event.
Once the green ribbon was cut to officially open the new greenhouse, everyone moved to stations set throughout the greenhouse for the planting event. Instructor Jerry Kelley, Assistant Emily Hooper and Horticulture students had set 11,400 pansy plugs around the greenhouse, and at the signal everyone began planting. The last pansy was planted at 11 minutes and 15 seconds – 5 minutes faster than the previous record. The pansies are now growing in the greenhouse and will be ready for purchase in the first week of October. The A+ Garden Centre is currently selling fall mums.
The A+ Garden Centre run by Horticulture students at Parkside CTE faced a crisis when its main greenhouse began to fail after a remarkable lifespan of almost 30 years. The school system, CTE, the Horticulture Program, Masonry Program, community partners, the construction team and contractors were committed to resolving the greenhouse problem for the one of the largest and most unique horticulture school-based programs in the country. “Through it all, everyone remained focused on doing what was best for the students, because that’s what we’re all here for,” said William Witte, Supervisor of Career & Technical Education.
At the end of last school year the old greenhouse was emptied and demolished, the summer-long replacement greenhouse project by contractors began, guided by Rob Jones, Construction Manager for Planning + Construction of Wicomico County Public Schools. The new greenhouse – a classroom, a laboratory and a workplace for the students – was finished and ready just in time for the start of the new school year and the fall planting season.
Students and staff continued to operate the horticulture program and business despite numerous obstacles and delays and seemingly endless decisions on details. Instructor Jerry Kelley hailed all who participated in “a true group effort in the greenhouse this summer, even when it was hot – up to 110 degrees. But we kept moving forward.”
During the ceremony to open the new greenhouse, Parkside Principal Brian Briggs said that years from now all the plants and students in the new Horticulture greenhouse will be different, “but I hope what never changes is the sense of pride, opportunity and possibility that the greenhouse represents.” He thanked everyone who had a hand in the greenhouse project, which will benefit Horticulture students today, tomorrow and far into the future.
Superintendent of Schools Dr. Micah Stauffer, a former Parkside High CTE principal, highlighted the success story of Wicomico graduates and in particular, CTE completers. Wicomico’s graduation rate of more than 87% exceeded the state average last school year. For students who were Parkside CTE completers, the graduation rate was 100%. “That tells you right there about the tremendous success and achievement” of the students, instructors and community partners of the CTE programs, Dr. Stauffer said.
Rob Jones, Construction Manager assigned to the project for the school system, highlighted the features of the new greenhouse, including automated controls that fully replaced the old manual controls. “The Horticulture Program essentially outgrew the capabilities of the old greenhouse,” said Jones, a Parkside graduate and a CTE completer himself. “This new greenhouse will give the students the opportunity to grow and expand and to do vastly more things than they ever imagined.”
The Horticulture Program’s A+ Garden Centre is open on school days (8 a.m.-2:30 p.m.; 8 a.m.-1 p.m. Fridays), and on Saturday mornings (8 a.m.-1 p.m.). Stop in to purchase mums, honey (on sale for $8 this week) and garden stepping stones. You can check out this school year’s plants and flowers in the fall, winter and spring catalogs: https://aplusgardencentre.weebly.com/
A number of awards for appreciation and achievement were announced at the grand opening and planting event:
- For Rob Jones, from Parkside CTE and the A+ Garden Centre, a plaque recognizing his leadership on and commitment to the greenhouse project.
- For Horticulture students who recently attained Certification in Professional Horticulture, presented by Salisbury University Horticulture representatives to: students Danielle Slate, Abigail Stophel, Savannah Hernandez, Alana Davis and River Taylor-Davidson.
- For Holly Center Angels, a certificate celebrating them for Community Planter Box of the Year: Mastery of Design and Color, presented by partner Griffin Greenhouse Supplies on behalf of Parkside CTE Horticulture.
- For Brett Karp and Russell Powell of Griffin Greenhouse Supplies, which has been a longtime partner and supporter of the Parkside CTE Horticulture Program, appreciation plaques presented by Horticulture instructor Jerry Kelley.
