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Shade is infrastructure. On a hot afternoon in the San Gabriel Valley, that is not a figure of speech. It is the difference between a schoolyard students can use and one they cannot.
On Thursday, August 13, families gathered at Shirpser Elementary School for Back-to-School Night and the opening of the school's new Living Schoolyard. Over the past year, 3.37 acres of the campus were rebuilt for nearly 500 students. The work was funded by a CAL FIRE Green Schoolyards grant and built in partnership with the El Monte City School District and the Trust for Public Land.
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What is new at Shirpser
The campus has 62 new trees. There are five outdoor classrooms with native plants and stormwater gardens, new nature play features in the kindergarten yard, shaded seating in the parent waiting area, and a tree-lined loop path around the main play field.
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Much of what students are playing on now did not exist last summer. The boulder structures, the mulched play areas, the garden beds, and the walking path all replaced hard surfaces that offered nothing but heat.
A campus built for the climate we have
Living Schoolyards are not only about how a campus looks. Shade lowers surface temperatures, which means students can be outside longer and more comfortably. Native plants and stormwater gardens capture rain where it falls instead of sending it into the storm drain. Outdoor classrooms give teachers somewhere to take a lesson.
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“Our new Living Schoolyard is more than a beautiful addition to our campus. It is an investment in our students' health, learning, and well-being,” said Veronica Ortiz, Principal of Shirpser Elementary School. “It gives our children opportunities to learn, explore, play, and connect with nature in ways that extend beyond the classroom.”
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“I am so proud to continue our commitment to creating functional, fun, and flourishing campuses that promote sustainability and learning,” said Dr. Maribel Garcia, Superintendent of the El Monte City School District. “Our renovations are a clear sign that the best is yet to come for our Shirpser community.”
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Two down, one to go
Shirpser is the second of three El Monte campuses opening under this grant. Cortada opened earlier this year. Gidley opens on Wednesday, August 19, with 79 new trees across 4.5 acres.
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Thank you to the El Monte City School District, the Trust for Public Land, CAL FIRE, and the Shirpser families who came out to celebrate.
Funding for Shirpser School's Living Schoolyard was provided by the Governor and Legislature from the 2022/2023 State General Fund as administered by the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (CAL FIRE) Urban and Community Forestry Program.
Learn more about the project at EMCSDLivingSchoolyards.org.
