Vision

As part of our ongoing efforts to create a welcoming space for all living things, our Changemakers club, as well as some grade 6 classes focused on beautifying our outdoor and indoor environments. We invested in proper gardening tools to help maintain our wildflower garden, as well as our fruit bushes and trees. To extend this connection with nature indoors, we wanted to create an indoor garden near the entrance of our school, aligning with the principle of mamtâsowin—a Cree concept emphasizing the importance of living in harmony with the land. The grant supported the purchase of raised planters and a variety of indoor plants that thrive in low light and help purify the air, bringing the calming and life-sustaining qualities of nature into our daily learning environment

Action

Changemakers researched plants that thrive in low-light conditions and created a list of species that grow well together. After careful consideration, we decided that the front entrance would be the ideal location for our raised planters, showcasing our beautiful arrangement of indoor plants. We plan to further collaborate with our Parent Council, who had already been exploring the idea of purchasing two indoor trees to flank our brand-new Indigenous mural, created by local artist Justine Proulx.

Reflection & Celebration

Our indoor garden will not only serve as a beautiful space for everyone to enjoy, but it will also offer a variety of benefits. Indoor plants can help purify the air, regulate humidity, and reduce indoor pollutants. They have also been shown to boost mood, reduce stress, and improve concentration and productivity—making them especially beneficial in learning and working environments.

In addition, caring for both indoor and outdoor plants teaches students responsibility and helps them develop a deeper understanding of the interconnectedness of all living things. Through hands-on experience, students learn that all life is connected and that small actions can make a big difference. We hope they carry these skills and values beyond the classroom, sharing their knowledge and inspiring others at home and in the wider community.

We celebrated by getting our hands dirty and creating a beautiful arrangement of plants for all members of our school community to enjoy. We celebrated our accomplishments on the morning announcements and making sure that everyone in our school understand the significance of bringing the outdoors indoors.