Field Study at Manzo Elementary - Erin McIlvain

I am doing my internship/field study at Manzo elementary school where about 98% of the students are Hispanic and a large portion of the families are migrant families. Manzo is a Title I school with about 250 students. The school is facing a lot of difficulties with the recent budget cuts in the school system and is on the list of schools that might be closed next year. To avoid this Manzo is doing a lot of things like creating an ecology and sustainability program.



Manzo is a school unlike any school I have ever seen. I have been working with the guidance counselor, Moses Thompson, and he believes in using horticulture therapy as a counseling strategy. As a way to accomplish this he has led the school in many projects. The students have created a desert biome on an empty lot that was previously filled with old mattresses and couches and was used as a place to drink and do drugs. The biome contains plants that are all native to this area and was created entirely by the students. I have taken groups of preschoolers out to the biome to water the plants and they get so excited about it!

The next project he led was a Kino Tree Heritage Project in the front of the school. "Father Kino" was a man from Spain who came to the Tucson area in the 17th century and brought these trees with him from Spain. A lot of the trees are nearly extinct now, or native only to the Tucson region, so the school created the Kino Tree Heritage Project and planted some of the trees in front of the school. The landscaping in the front of the school was also done by the students and is supported by two rainwater cisterns that were made also by the students and paid for by grant money (as were all of the projects).

Manzo students are almost finished creating a desert Tortoise habitat in one of the two courtyards of the school complete with a stone mason wall (cement made by preschool and kindergarden students and everyone helped to make it!) and a lot of landscaping. All of the plants in the habitat are to support the desert tortoise, for food or shelter. In April the school will get a desert Tortoise from the Desert Museum! Currently the habitat is being finished and they are working to add in the final touches and then next week will be building a rain jar to support the habitat!

They are now currently working on a vegetable garden planted in the way that the Native Americans of this area used to plant their vegetables. The vegetables that will be planted are all plants that were grown by the Peoples native to this area. Then they will put in rainwater cisterns to support the garden!

Manzo Elementary is doing some awesome things for their students and the coolest part is that all of the students are so eager and excited to participate! When working with the students that is the first thing I notice, how excited they are to help. They are also so eager to show off the various things that they have helped with in the school. It is very awesome how Manzo makes the school a home to every student and helps them to make it their own.