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A fresh face for American Academy

AA’s new landscape plan should be completed in the fall of 2011.

Article and photos by Kathy Dunker

When American Academy (AA) opened the doors of its new building in 2009, landscaping was not the top priority. With school budgets being what they are now, AA anticipated having to live with the bare minimum of trees and erosion control for a quite some time.
 
Trish Cummings, executive assistant at AA remarked, “We had some unexpected costs to cover due to the economic crisis of 2008, and couldn’t afford to do anything but put in some rocks, some very reluctant sod and eventually, when we absolutely had to, some concrete drains. Not a very inviting first view of the school.”

Fortunately for the charter school, AA parents, Jackie and Steve Brown of Alameda Wholesale, volunteered to present AA with an affordable plan to improve both the function and look of their front landscaping. The new plan includes moving some of the existing trees and adding a number of new trees, bushes and other plant material which will all be donated by Alameda Wholesale. In addition, the plan includes a flag pole, a small community courtyard for gathering near the front entrance, and a path from the front sidewalk to the student entrance.

To offset the costs, AA’s PTO is selling commemorative bricks which will be filled in along the front path and will raise money to bring the plan to fruition. They are selling 4×8 inch bricks for $150 each and 8×8 inch bricks for $250. Both brick sizes will include three lines of engraved text. The bricks can be used to memorialize students, families, organizations, clubs, sports teams, or a special teacher. Installation of the bricks will begin in October.

Cummings added, “We are expecting to begin landscaping on June 9, and finish during the first part of July so that students and parents will have a lovely new view when they arrive for carpool next fall. We are very proud of this new plan and are looking forward to dressing up a little in time for the opening of the new park next door!”

To find out more about AA’s commemorative brick fundraiser, visit their website at www.americanacademyk8.org.

AA’s upgraded landscape plan will be a big step up from the existing, bare bones, front landscape.

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