On Wednesday, the planting work in the beds around the new elementary school building in Wetten was successfully completed. The company Steegmann Garten- und Landschaftsbau has created a near-natural garden there in collaboration with natural garden planner Sacha Sohn. The special feature: Only native and regional wild plants, perennials and shrubs were used here. In this case, native does not simply mean from the nursery in the neighboring town, but plants that have actually been growing here on the Lower Rhine for centuries. These plants also provide the ideal habitat for native insects. The extension of the elementary school has also created a new outdoor area between the new and existing buildings. A "green classroom" is being created here. Between the freshly planted trees, tree grates will soon be installed as seating and a chalkboard to enable outdoor lessons. Natural garden planner Sacha Sohn is still drawing up a maintenance concept for the new natural garden. A natural garden doesn't need much maintenance, but it should be looked after a few times a year. Various ideas for cooperation with the school and the open all-day program are currently being developed. Principal Anna Moderings could also very well imagine a visit from Sacha Sohn and Christoph Steegmann in class to explain more about the nature garden to the children.
Construction work has been underway at Wetten elementary school since the beginning of 2023. The aim is to replace the pavilions in the schoolyard, which were originally intended as a temporary interim solution, and to create the necessary space for the children with the new extension and renovation of the existing building. In the first construction phase, the extension was built in the direction of Franz-Terhoeven-Straße. The new extension with a spruce wood façade offers space for a classroom with a differentiation room, storage rooms and a large multi-purpose and music room, which can also be divided into two classrooms using a mobile partition wall or used as a large room for festivities, depending on requirements. Pupils were able to move into the new building after the summer vacations this year. The renovation work in the existing building began immediately afterwards, which is why everyone is currently moving a little closer together during the conversion phase in the new building.
The third and final construction phase will probably involve dismantling the pavilions in the school playground. Even if the construction schedule is very ambitious, the aim is to complete the entire construction work by the beginning of next year.
