Aging High School Gets Much Needed Facelift
SPHS Student Beautification Club Continues Landscaping Project

Photo by Cathy Ford

Severna Park High School seniors Ellan Scherer and Erin Mathis plant Eastern Redbud trees during the Facilities Enhancement Committees' 2nd annual Beautification Day.

By Ellen Kinsella

At 9:00am on a dreary, drizzly Sunday while most teenagers were fast asleep, a dedicated group of Severna Park High School students donned jackets and work gloves, and began to weed, plant, and mulch the school grounds. October 22nd was the second annual Beautification Day sponsored by the Facilities Enhancement Committee. Led by senior Peter Ildefonso, the student-run club took advantage of the Department of Natural Resources Tree-Mendous reforestation program, and acquired and planted 17 native trees, which came accompanied by truckloads of mulch. They also planted grasses, shrubs, and flowers.

Peter was joined by fellow students Ellon Scherer, Erin Mathis, Stuart Barnett, Ryan Pat, and Anqi Lu. Also on the committee were Victoria Boggiano, John Michael DeStefano, Andrew Browning, and Charlene Bryant.

"This used to be all dirt," observed Peter, pointing to a large area outside the school's music rooms. "The mulch will hopefully make it look better and keep the dirt from turning into mud when it rains," he added.

This project was a cooperative effort. AA Recycling in Pasadena donated mulch; Homestead Gardens donated landscape plans and provided plants at 20 percent below cost; Quayle Landscaping donated labor; Ed McAllister donated plants; the PTSO and Student Government donated money; and the Greater Severna Park Council and Chamber of Commerce also helped out.

The beautification project was originally conceived when Peter was approached by Principal William Myers, who asked if he could make the areas in front of the school look better and easier to navigate. Peter, who was climbing the ranks with Boy Scout Troop 339, saw this as a choice for his Eagle Scout community service project, but organizing it proved to be a challenge.

Even though Peter had an impressive 100 volunteers come to help with the first Beautification Day, getting to that point involved swimming through a lot of red tape.

"It takes so much coordinating!" commented Jennifer Wade, PTSO parent liaison. "You have to get approvals from the school administrators and the PTSO; then you have to coordinate with the DNR, volunteers, Miss Utility, the Board of Ed maintenance department, and the school's business department." She sighed and added, "I can see why a lot of schools don't take on projects like this!"

Further complicating the acquisition of materials and approvals is the fact that, "even though the County keeps budgeting more money, there are only eight people in the department working on projects for all 132 schools," Peter interjected.

"And we're not getting much County money because everyone thinks 'Severna Park High School is so affluent, they have the highest test scores and the busiest PTSO, they don't need the money,'" Peter continued.

Peter states the school system is $68 million behind on maintenance projects, so it is easier for students like him to complete endeavors like this one than rather than wait for the County.

The current landscaping project is just one aspect of the long-range plan for the front of the school. Next, the committee plans to update the school signs, overhaul the senior/faculty parking lot and turn the figure-8 traffic pattern into a circle, and beautify the area around the flagpole with flowers and engraved inlaid bricks (To buy a brick for $30 contact Donna Boettner at 410-544-0900.)

An unplanned outcome of the beautification is an increased awareness of the environment. Peter has learned a lot about recycling, native plants, and more. "I think we will be applying for Green School status," he proudly states.

Back to News and & Awards