For one magical week, JA students from K2 through Kindergarten stepped into the world of Beatrix Potter, and into the lush, enchanting rows of Mr. McGregor’s Garden.
K4 and Kindergarten students were treated to real tea parties held right inside Mr. McGregor’s Garden. Gathered among the greenery, they listened to Preschool Librarian Mimi Heard read the beloved Beatrix Potter story while they sipped lemonade and nibbled on cookies and carrots — just as any self-respecting mischievous bunny would.
The magic didn’t stop at school. Youngsters went home equipped to start a garden of their own. Above the display of take-home gift bags and garden tools, a simple phrase set the tone: “Even the smallest one can change the world.” JA provided each student with a garden tool, and Green Oak sent them off with a treat bag filled with zinnia seeds, an instruction sheet on growing zinnias, three crayons, and two coloring sheets.
Performing Arts teacher Reese Overstreet ’19 guided K2 and K3 students through the exhibit in their own dedicated sessions, giving the youngest learners the space and time to fully immerse themselves in the world their parents and teachers so lovingly created. Their experience began in the classroom with a reading of The Runaway Bunny by Margaret Wise Brown. Students used their bodies to act out the little bunny’s attempts to run away, bringing the story to life through movement. From there, they ventured into Beatrix Potter’s world, exploring Mr. McGregor’s Garden and spotting bunnies tucked throughout the space.
The lush and magical world of Mr. McGregor’s Garden was brought to life through the contributions of Eric McKie ’08 and the team at Green Oak and a dedicated group of parents and teachers. Julia Morgan Sandifer ’08 and Bethany Haggard ’09 spearheaded fellow committee members’ efforts, turning an ordinary school space into something truly extraordinary.
