Native Plants at Belmont High School

Belmont High Students, State Rep. Dave Rogers, Faculty Advisor Dan Moresco, Kirsten Waerstad of the Humani Foundation, Jean Devine (DNP), Sara Wang, Laura Caputo, and Kelly Schlabach of Mystic Charles Pollinator Pathways Group,

Last Saturday, May 13, Jean, Faculty advisor Dan Moresco, and the Belmont High Climate Action Club installed a 300 square foot Native Plant Garden on Belmont High School’s campus. This garden was three years in the making! What an accomplishment! The students were eager, earnest, and dedicated to installing native plants to support pollinator habitat and restore biodiversity to the grass-filled campus. The student-run project was made possible by a BHS PTSO grant, a generous donation from the Humani Foundation, and donations from Belmont residents who attended a stellar musical fundraiser the students orchestrated in spring 2022. Thanks to Jean’s guidance, input from Belmont's Facilities Director David Blazon, approval from the Belmont HS-MS Building Committee, advice from members of the Mystic Charles Pollinator Pathways Group and Sustainable Belmont, and plant donations and on-site garden coaching from Laura Caputo, Dean Hickman, Kelly Schlabach, Kirsten Waerstad, Sarah Wang and Jeanne Wildman, and encouragement from State Representative Dave Rogers, the garden is installed and ready to be enjoyed by pollinators, BHS students, and the community.