On Thursday, June 19, two Grade 7/8 French immersion classes from Pleasant Corners Public School (PCPS) visited the McAlpine Forever Forest in Vankleek Hill to install birdhouses, plant flowers, and help beautify the memorial site. As part of the student-led initiative, they also built wooden benches and flower boxes, showcasing their hands-on skills.

Grade 7/8 teachers Naomi Gadbois and Alex Lawson oversaw the endeavour, which began with a Skills Ontario construction challenge and evolved into a larger community initiative through the Upper Canada District School Board’s (UCDSB) Real-World Learning (RWL) approach.

This approach aims to connect classroom knowledge to real-world situations and learning experiences. Additionally, it guides students to develop critical thinking skills, problem-solving abilities, and practical skills applicable beyond the classroom.

One of the wooden benches and flower box installed at the McAlpine Forever Forest. Photo: Philip Oddi.
PCPS Grade 7/8 students planting arrangements in their wooden flower boxes. Photo: Philip Oddi.
The final product, with purple flowers in memory of Maddy Duval. Photo: Philip Oddi.

Students also wanted to plant purple flowers in memory of 16-year-old Maddy Duval, who died in a vehicle collision near Cornwall in March of this year.

The Grade 7/8 students had written persuasive letters to numerous companies seeking tools and equipment for the project. Milwaukee Tool responded by offering discounts on the equipment used.

In early May, students worked with the Saint Lawrence College Mobile Training Lab to design and build the benches.

A PCPS student from one of the 7/8 classes, Kye Anderson, explained, “This project helps make the area nicer and more enjoyable for visitors to the Forever Forest.”

PCPS Grade 7/8 students planted perennial flowers in their wooden flower boxes. Photo: Philip Oddi.

Another student, Bea Gillbanks, said that the project developed into a community initiative because students wanted to replace some of the rotting benches and beautify the area.

“We thought the forest could use newer benches and some flower boxes to add some colour. We wanted to create a few nice places to sit for those remembering their lost loved ones,” Gillbanks continued.

Grade 7/8 student Zakaria Mesbahi said that the original benches “didn’t look like they were going to hold on much longer. So, we wanted to replace them with ones we built. The purple flowers we chose don’t require much maintenance or water, and it was a way for us to remember Maddy.”

Photos by Philip Oddi:

PCPS Grade 7/8 students showcasing their birdhouses, bench, and flower box.
PCPS Grade 7/8 students installing their wooden birdhouses.