SOMBA K'E/YELLOWKNIFE
Yellowknife Education District No. 1 support staff are rolling up their sleeves and getting ready to beautify their schools in the gardens and on the walls.

Tracy Turk, executive assistant to public district superintendent Metro Huculak, is one of a number of Yellowknife Education District No. 1 staff enlisted to plant flowers at district schools this year. - Evan Kiyoshi French/NNSL photo

The executive assistant to superintendent Metro Huculak plans to put her green thumb to good use planting flowers in the school's planters.

"I've gardened at home and planted plants there," said Tracy Turk, one of many who committed to be part of the superintendent's cost-saving landscaping plan.

"I think that the plan is likely to get the plants and choose a nice relatively warm sunny weekend and get together as a group and put them in the ground."

Huculak told trustees gathered for last week's meeting the move could save the district coffers $6,000.

Turk said she's looking forward to it.

"It's a nice team building activity too," she said.

Huculak said William McDonald Middle School, where 173 planters await shrubs and flowers, needs landscaping.

"I talked to the (parent advisory council) at William McDonald School about ordering plants for the planters," he said. "So that's on the go. I'm looking forward to the beautification that's going to happen, as well as at Mildred Hall School."

Murals in the mix for Mildred Hall

In addition to landscaping, Mildred Hall School is also awaiting installation of a mural, which will be mounted on the exterior of the building, said Huculak.

"(It will) be installed in May and we are planning on doing a unveiling in May as well," stated Yk1 spokesperson Sarah Bradfield in an e-mail.

Speaking by phone earlier this month, the experienced artist said students were canvassed to see what they'd like on the planned 288-square foot piece. She learned the students wanted the work to represent the four seasons, feature wild creatures and to be representative of traditional teaching, she said. Clark Builders agreed to cover the cost of mounting the piece high on the building.

"I've been working on it since the end of October and just finished it last week," she said earlier this month.

Huculak said he is reaching out to parent groups at all of the district schools to find out where the spring cleaning and planting crews will be needed.

"I'm speaking with the (parent advisory committee) chair at N.J. (Macpherson school) to see how we can beautify the front of the school for the spring."