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The school grounds at Chisago Lakes High School and CL Middle School have been improved once again this summer, due to a hard-working group of high school students.

The 10 classmates enrolled in the Summer Landscaping Services program at CLHS wrapped up their 17 days of work with a cake and pop reception July 11 in front of the school.

During the reception, students took turns sharing thoughts about the program, which combines classroom academic work in reading, writing and math with the physical labor of landscape work.

Most agreed it was tough work, but they learned a lot and were proud of their accomplishments in the end.

Those accomplishments included facelifts to two exterior entrances at the high school and one middle school entrance.

At CLHS, the crew installed landscape trim, rock, trees and shrubs on both sides of the main entrance to the school and the south entrance next to the community pool.

At CLMS, the class followed a similar design to beautify the entrance by the media center. CLMS Principal John Menard said before this, nothing would grow in that area and the facelift was much needed. “It’s a huge improvement,” he said.

Menard, along with CLHS Principal Dave Ertl and Superintendent Michael McLoughlin, were on hand to congratulate the students on their efforts – and the teachers who helped them during the course.

Shira Ben-Haim served as instructor for the course, helped by Andrea Ryan, Mary Klick and paraprofessionals Debbie Hoyt and Kim Mortenson.

Diane Menard was one of the grant writers who helped obtain funds to offer the class once again at the school. She said the $10,000 grant also includes a $500 stipend given to each student as they work their required 100 hours during the class.

The students ranged from 9th to 12th graders, who all received academic credit for the course. It was offered through the Central Minnesota Jobs and Training Services and a program called Minnesota Youth Academic Enrichment Landscape Project.

Ben-Haim was thankful that the high school offered space for the class and other in-kind donations. She was also grateful to local landscaper and agriculture science instructor Jeff Lindeman, who donated the use of heavy equipment for the landscaping jobs.

The class has been offered for more than five years, in large part because the district was able to receive the grant each year.

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