Students' work pays off in colorful project

By KARI KRAMER | East Texas Edition

North Lamar High School students ready their poinsettias as they get ready to fill orders. Pictured are (from left) Travis Crossland, junior; Dustin Dorse, sophomore; Hannah George, junior; and Callie Allison, senior. -- Staff photo by Kramer

Dec. 9, 2004 - Agriculture students at North Lamar High School in Paris have spent the school year growing poinsettias.

Horticulture teacher Jennifer Clark said all of her agriculture classes helped her horticulture students plant the poinsettia plugs the first week of school in August.

Initially, Clark's horticulture students, in two classes, were responsible for the 700 plants growing in the school's greenhouse. The potted plants were placed on tables, and "the students pair up and take care of a table," Clark explained. The students were responsible for watering the plants and making sure they had adequate space to grow.

But finally, the task of planting 700 plants was too much for two classes, so Clark enlisted her other classes to help.

"All of my classes come out (to the greenhouse) at one point in time. There are close to 100 students involved," said Clark.

Clark, who took over the project three years ago, requires her horticulture classes to learn the details of the poinsettias. "They have to learn everything about poinsettias, the parts, the pests that damage them and the diseases. Then they take care of the tables themselves."

The students, a blend of ninth through 12th graders, admitted that the work was hard at times.

"You always have to come out and water," said Callie Allison, a senior.

"And keeping the plants moved around so they have room," added Travis Crossland, a junior.

"I treat my horticulture classes as if they were a business. They are responsible for everything, including setting the prices of plants. They have to figure the cost of the plants, materials, etc. They get real life experience in these agriculture classes that they can take with them out into the real world and use on actual jobs," said Clark.

Late in the fall, months of dedication, patience, and learning resulted in a greenhouse full of poinsettias.

"I think they really get a sense of pride. At first, they say they can't grow anything and can't take care of anything," said Clark.

Once the plants are mature, just in time for Christmas season, the poinsettias are sold, for $6 a plant, to several businesses, churches, school employees, and anyone else who places an order.

Hannah George, a junior, recently took a plant home from the table of poinsettias that she has been growing all semester. She said she thought her mother was surprised by what she had grown.

"I couldn't even grow a seed in a little cup when I was in kindergarten," she said.

Clark said many of the students like to take home a plant that they have grown. Most of the plants are usually sold, but those that aren't purchased are made useful.

"What we don't sell, we take to area nursing homes - there are some close to the school - and donate them. It gives the kids a chance to get out into the community," said Clark.

The students, who started months ago planting the poinsettia plugs, have gotten a chance to see their project through the entire growing and distribution process.

"I'm very proud of the students' hard work. They've worked hard growing the poinsettias, taking the orders, and then delivering them," said Clark.

North Lamar students have been doing the poinsettia fundraiser for several years. All the money earned from the poinsettia sales is put back into the school greenhouse programs.