Our goal is to put a wildlife habitat on every school campus in the Valley of the Sun!

KIDS AT FOOTHILLS WANT TO GET THEIR HANDS DIRTY

A Wildlife Habitat at Foothills: The Sonoran desert wildlife habitat, sponsored by the Schoolyard Habitat Foundation, is the answer to a school's hopes. Connecting students at Foothills Elementary School (FHES) to subjects in the natural sciences and mathematics, as well as in art and literature, and as broad in scope as indigenous cultures and ecological history to real-life learning situations, the habitat will become a living laboratory and an important step to meeting our goal to become a biotech school.

Creating a site-specific demonstration habitat at FHES is the natural extension of the school's ongoing and successful natural resources sustainability project, our signature program - Biotech: Water and Environmental Quality. This program seeks to spark the imagination of, and engage, students as well as their families and members of the surrounding community. Its goal is to build understanding and appreciation of water resources and environmental quality, using the Harmony Garden as a focal point for teaching. The anticipated habitat significantly expands this effort. By bringing fish, birds and insects; and native trees, shrubs and plants to the site, the habitat will create a sustainable Sonoran ecosystem and an opportunity for learning that will reach far beyond the classroom.

U.S. Students Slipping in Science: FES leadership feels strongly about the need to strengthen science education, to engage students in science in a meaningful way, and believes that, with the right resources, FHES can design a unique option for bringing meaning to these subjects. The habitat is that 'unique option.'

The 2006 Report entitled RISING ABOVE THE GATHERING STORM (National Academy of Science) notes that Arizona ranks 50^th in the annual Education State Rankings for 'smartest states.' The same source tells us that fewer than 1/3 of U.S. 4th and 8th grade students performed at or above the "proficient" level in mathematics. Alarmingly, about 1/3 of the 4th graders and 1/5 of the 8th graders lacked the competence to perform even basic math. These chilling statistics are a call to action to improve science education at all levels.

A School with Challenges and with Vision: FHES has its own challenges. Its student population is widely diverse, including a large group of low income households (41% on free or reduced lunch). Its financial resources are challenged. The SPECIALS programs (art, library, music, and PE) are increasingly cut. There has been a rapid student decline from 606 in 2004 - 2005 to 422.

Yet, FES sets high expectations and continues providing a rigorous curriculum. It has made strides. Largely because of its extraordinary faculty, it awards and recognitions including the Renaissance Place Model Library Award and placing in the Masonic Lodge Presidents Day Oratorical Contest. FES seeks to overcome challenges. Its plan to do so focuses on the habitat.

Unique Resources: FES has a unique resource for this project - Professor Rob MacDuff, a renowned mathematician. Professor MacDuff developed Cognition Ignition^ a winning mathematics education program. Using the habitat, mathematical and scientific concepts such as experimentation, theory development, temperature, water quality testing and analysis, and plant and animal biology will be explored in hands-on, interactive, experiential learning.  Students will also learn to develop and apply scientific thinking and methods. They will become sleuths in solving scientific mysteries in nature. They will increase vocabulary, learn critical thinking and creative problem solving, and team-work. Just as importantly, they will learn to be 'at home' and not intimidated in the sciences and math - all while exploring the wondrous natural world.

Curriculum resources, such as Full Option Science System (FOSS) and ProjectWET (Water Education for Teachers), will use the habitat for lesson plans and materials in the K - 6 curriculum for use in the classroom and at the site.

The learning taking place around the habitat will impact each student differently. It will ultimately become a meaningful metaphor for lessons that each student will internalize in his or her own way.

Habitat Sustainability: Under the guidance of five faculty members, the students will be responsible for nurturing and sustaining all 'members' of the habitat. FHES will implement Permaculture principles and ethics as guidelines for the students' in their work with the habitat. These include care of the earth, care of the people and reinvesting in the future through recycling and other sustainability practices.

The faculty guiding this project have a total of more than 100 years of teaching experience. Their oversight will keep the children accountable as they support and sustain the habitat.

In addition, the project will be bolstered by a roster of community partners including Home Depot corporate and employee volunteer corp (who assisted with the Harmony Garden), Life Care Center of Paradise Valley, and The Firebirds in Action Garden Club. These volunteers span a range of backgrounds, socioeconomic strata, knowledge levels, professional skills and ages. The school's community partnerships and volunteers provide powerful learning partners for children in and outside the classroom. The students will learn about co-operation and collaboration, enhance interpersonal skills and character traits such as patience, responsibility, team work and work ethics - preparing them for their futures.

Continued funding will come from fund raising projects coordinated by the parent volunteer organization. Community partners will ultimately be solicited for funding, possibly at the naming level. Parent volunteers will write grants. Other fund raising strategies will be considered on a case-by-case basis when needs arise.

Conclusion; The habitat will benefit every student in the school, and - with careful planning - will impact children and families in the community. It has the ability to inspire and educate, now and into the future, both in the classroom and beyond. It has the potential to be a point of pride for the children, the school and for the community.

Please give FHES the chance to focus on the Schoolyard Wildlife Habitat to realize a vision that reaches its students and beyond for years to come.