Press Release

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: Susie Pickering

Oak Lane Day School

137 Stenton Ave, Blue Bell, PA 19422

Phone: 610 825-1055     

Fax: 610 825-9288

Email: spickering@oaklanedayschool.org

Oak Lane: Certified as a National Schoolyard Habitat

The campus of Oak Lane Day School has been designated as a National Wildlife Federation Schoolyard Habitat in recognition of the healthy native habitat improved and managed by the Oak Lane community. With the help of Derek Stedman of the Habitat Resource Network, Oak Lane science teacher Dottie Baumgarten applied for this special certification this past summer.

On Wednesday, September 27, the whole school gathered together to celebrate this inspiring distinction. The morning assembly began with the students and teachers singing a garden song led by music teacher Marlis Kraft-Zemel. Dottie then called the community to action by explaining to the children their role in perpetuating the health of the school's native habitat and distributing among the teachers baggies filled with native plant seeds. The kids were excited as they walked with their teachers through the campus and past the spring-fed creek where hundreds of native plants now flourish.

Gracing this area is the new Schoolyard Habitat sign that has been proudly installed on a beautiful sycamore signpost. The weather was perfect as the students arranged themselves around the campus meadow and, at the festive ringing of a cowbell, let fly great handfuls of native wildflower seeds. Although the sowing of the seeds this morning was symbolic, the Oak Lane community continues to work to secure the future good health of their school's campus and the Wissahickon Watershed of which it is a part.

Oak Lane Day School Information

An independent elementary school, founded in 1916 and located in Blue Bell, Oak Lane Day School serves a diverse population of boys and girls. Oak Lane honors each child's unique individuality while fostering intellectual, creative, academic, and personal growth within a diverse community of active, engaged learners. Small class sizes and an atmosphere that encourages children to develop their academic and social skills are priorities at Oak Lane, where learning is a meaningful and joyous pursuit. Oak Lane's country-like property of 30 acres along Butler Pike and Stenton Avenue boasts a stream, pond, woods, meadows, and specimen trees as well as athletic fields and playgrounds.

Oak Lane Day School is accredited by the Pennsylvania Association of Independent Schools (PAIS), and is a member of the National Association of Independent Schools (NAIS) and the Association of Delaware Valley Independent Schools (ADVIS).