Lasalle Elementary School cultivates community at Twin Forks Park

As good neighbours, students from Lasalle Elementary School are giving back to the community where they live and learn.

This year, all classes at the JK to Grade 6 French Immersion school in New Sudbury grew plants from seeds for the community garden at Twin Forks Park.

The seedlings that had been nurtured since early spring – from carrots, to yellow and green beans, cucumbers, tomatoes, broccoli, corn and squash, to strawberries, pumpkins and cantaloupe – were transplanted in the community garden on June 19th.

Close to a dozen classes participated in the “Planting Day” field trip to Twin Forks Park.

“This was a significant initiative and partnership for our school with our students giving back to their community while learning about plants, planting and sustainability,” said Kristen Pichette, Principal of Lasalle Elementary School.

She added: “Rainbow District School Board’s Indigenous Cultural Facilitator, Ozzie Osawamick, also attended Planting Day to share Indigenous ways of knowing.”

Led by Lasalle Elementary’s EcoSchools Lead, Lynn Laurin, the community garden proved to be an ideal lesson in environmental education with an important Indigenous component, while contributing towards the school’s EcoSchools certification for 2025-2026.

Lasalle Elementary School achieved Platinum certification this year, the highest standing in EcoSchools Canada.

As the summer progresses, fruits and vegetables will be harvested for the community to enjoy thanks to the little green thumbs at Lasalle Elementary School.

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Media Contact:

Nicole Charette, Senior Advisor,
Corporate Communications and Strategic Planning,
Rainbow District School Board, 674-3171, ext. 7217.