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06/14/2022 12:00 AMStudents and staff at Totoket Valley Elementary School (TVES) welcomed the opening of the "Ed Cann Bird Sanctuary" in June. The outdoor location in the back of TVES near the Land Trust hiking trails was designed, built, and maintained by TVES staff members in honor of Ed Cann. He passed away this fall after battling cancer and was a custodian at the school for over 48 years.
Students, staff, and the community wanted to honor his long time legacy at the school with some kind of meaningful dedication. The idea of a bird sanctuary came together with key input from custodial colleague - Jimmy Perrelli, art teacher - Elyse Mortensen, grade 3 teachers - Karyl Morton and Mary Ellen DiLella, paraprofessional - Karen Doyle, and security officer - Art Huggins. Together with principal Carter Welch, this group secured this outdoor space so that students, staff, and visitors for years to come can enjoy a peaceful learning and relaxing location.
The area highlights birdhouses, a bird bath, bird/butterfly friendly plantings, a seating area, and a meditation space. The goal is to allow students and staff to practice active relaxation and mindfulness in this area to enhance their emotional regulation. Additionally, the space will serve as an outdoor learning space, where students and staff can study birds, butterflies and other flora and fauna live in nature as connected to their science curriculum.
In partnership with this space, TVES is seeking grant funding for binoculars and other science supports (bird guides, nature guides, studying kids, etc.) so that learning and relaxing will go hand in hand in honor of Ed Cann. During his life he was an active appreciator of nature, outdoors, birds, flowers, etc. and was a wonderfully talented photographer as well, often using nature as his inspiration.
It is our hope that his legacy will be honored for years to come by this wonderful space at his beloved Totoket Valley Elementary School. The design group, mentioned here, will continue to add to, enrich, and develop this space over time with input from our students and their families as well. We hope all who visit this area will enjoy the space and the learning that comes with it, and we hope Ed Cann continues to smile down upon all of us as we do!
Principal Welch thanked the committed members of the design team who helped the vision come to a reality this June, and he wanted all to know both science and mindfulness are alive in the back of TVES on a daily basis!