Plant Seeds for the Future

The beginning of a new year brings some of the most anticipated mail–the new seed catalogs! The photos accompanying the descriptions of each plant are enough to make any gardener drool and forget their resolution to not be swayed by the pretty pictures. But the promise of this splendid blooming plant or tasty vegetable makes us forget our solemn vow and culminates in a large order. Now, here in Texas, gardens happen more easily than other regions in the country—after all, the average last frost date occurs about mid-March and the average first frost date occurs about mid-November, giving us a long growing season, and sometimes almost 3 different seasons in the same year.

Teachers who had their grants funded also love the beginning of the new year— they will get to “plant” those seeds and watch growth happen for their students. Some improvements will sprout quickly while others will need the whole Spring to show the growth happening. And some will grow slowly for the first year but will create a strong perennial base for future learning. This year, Forney Education Foundation passed the million-dollar mark in funding teacher-requested grants for the betterment of the classroom experience for the students in Forney ISD–that is a LOT of seeds for the future! Seriously though, without the support of the Forney Family, the number of students helped through the Grant Program would be very small indeed. And just like a garden needs tending almost daily, the teachers help their students grow exponentially, and the grants add so much to the tools good teachers use.

And even if the weather turns cold many more times before mid-March, remember that the classrooms in Forney ISD act much in the same way that greenhouses do—providing a positive environment that fosters growth. Would you like to “plant” seeds and help our students grow? Please visit www.forneyisdfoundation. org and see how easy it can be to help students grow.