Albany Elementary Wakanheza Garden

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Students at Albany Elementary (Ann Schultz, principal) helped put the finishing touches on their “Wakanheza Garden” on Thursday, May 29. Students in each grade level battled the rain to plant flowers. Most students also brought rocks to place in the garden as a border.

Albany Elementary embraced the Wakanheza philosophy throughout the school year. Wakanheza is a Dakota word that means child. It is literally translated to English as sacred beings. Students in grades 1-6 learned about and practiced the four main attributes: support, protect, cherish, and respect. The focus was practicing these attributes with other students and staff at school. Students observed using these attributes were acknowledged by having their names on the “Wall of Honor.” Four assemblies were held throughout the school year; older students put on skits to help all the students learn what it means to support, protect, cherish, and respect one another.

The garden was created as a symbol to honor the students’ hard work. It is something they can be proud of and serves as a visual reminder of what our school is committed to do. School staff members have volunteered to water and weed the garden over the summer.

To read more about the school's work and Wakanheza, visit the Resources section of our Web.

Mission: The Minnesota Elementary School Principals' Association is dedicated to promoting and improving education for children and youth, strengthening the role as educational leader for elementary and middle level principals, and collaborating with partners in education to assist in achieving these goals.

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