Memorial Special Education Students Donate Garden Items To Food Pantry

The Oklahoma Green Schools program honored Memorial High School students for work they've been doing in their sensory garden.

Students donated fresh herbs they grew to the Community Food Bank of Eastern Oklahoma's food pantry program.

Special education teachers say this kind of learning is essential.

"Their eyes light up when they stick their hands on the dirt…” teacher Janet Parker said.

"When they get to get their hands dirty and feel like their making a difference in the world, then you know it stays with them throughout their lives."

Plans are in the works to build a greenhouse at Memorial in honor of murder victim Kayla Ferrante.

Kayla was a Memorial graduate who dreamed of becoming a special education teacher before she was killed by gang members in a case of mistaken identity in 2012.

Memorial hopes the greenhouse will be ready for students next fall.