The greenhouse at Great Expectations School offers fundraising— and educational— opportunities for Great Expectations students. Community members can visit the greenhouse and possibly purchase a plant or two on Saturday, May 21 from 8:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.
Great Expectations School holds a greenhouse plant sale and pancake breakfast every May as its major fundraising event of the year. This event generates essential revenue for the school’s operations, generally bringing in over $4,000 that the school uses to strengthen its programs.
The greenhouse has been a strong part of GES for many years. It was donated to the school by Teresa Rantilla, who wanted to support GES’s efforts. “Her generosity overwhelmed us and we jumped at the chance to have the greenhouse as part of our school,” says Kathryn Nelson-Pedersen, a teacher at Great Expectations School. “We realized early on that it could be a great educational opportunity and a source of revenue for us.
GES held its first sale in 2007. Students were involved in planting seeds and tending the plants, staff and parents volunteered their time coordinating and hosting the event, and board members put on a pancake breakfast to complement the plant sale. As Nelson- Pedersen recalls, the event was very positive and enjoyable. “On the day of the sale it was really warm and beautiful, so kids were playing while the breakfast and sale was happening.
Overall, the first attempt was really successful.”
Over the years, the GES Greenhouse Sale and Pancake Breakfast has continued in the same vein of community, cooperation and generosity. Every year, students, parents and GES staff work together to plan and coordinate the event, and many community members regularly attend in support of their efforts. According to Karina Roth, who heads up the event every year, the sale has grown over the years in response to positive feedback and support from the community.
In addition to generating revenue for the school, the greenhouse serves as a great educational opportunity as well. Every year, Roth goes into each classroom at least once to plant seeds with the kids, and she has the older classrooms take care of the plants in their room, and help with transplanting. This is a valuable educational tool, she says, as “the kids at GES are able to see firsthand that they can plant their own food and flowers and not just buy them at the store.”
This year, the GES Greenhouse Plant Sale and Pancake Breakfast will take place Saturday, May 21 from 8:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. at Great Expectations School, located at 550 E. 5th Street. It will feature a wide selection of annual and perennial flowers, vegetables, and crafts for sale, as well as a pancake breakfast, making it a family-friendly, fun way to spend a Saturday morning. More information about the GES Greenhouse Plant Sale is available by calling 387-9322.
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