Sabal Palm Elementary School's faculty members kicked off their new theme for the 2008-2009 academic year, "Let's Get Growing," with a surprise visit to the Cummer Museum of Art & Gardens.
Principal Mary Mickel, acting as the head gardener, and her Assistant Principal, Christine Kumer, greeted teachers during pre-planning dressed in matching sabal palm & flamingo blouses with big smiles on their faces. They had been hiding the planned garden activities for weeks from all who asked and inquired.
More than 100 faculty members loaded two buses and traveled from East Arlington across the St. John's River into downtown Jacksonville with no clue of where they were heading. Once the bus crossed Riverside Avenue, the guessing began. Was it the Garden Club, Riverside Park or perhaps…the Cummer?
Once they arrived at the museum, faculty members were treated to a continental breakfast on themed tables decorated with watering cans and garden gloves as the centerpieces. Each place was set with an apron and a packet of seeds, encouraging teachers to start their "gardens" growing when they returned to school.
Door prizes were awarded, food was shared and 18 new staff members were inducted into the new fold of 'gardeners' at Sabal Palm Elementary.
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