When first- through fourth-grade students returned to Loveland Primary School on Monday, each received a flower thanks to Roberta Paolo, founder of the School Garden Program, also known as Granny's Garden School.

"We gave each a flower from the garden to give to their teacher," Paolo said. "We started the garden program a year ago last March."

Paolo, a 56-year-old Loveland resident and avid gardener, started the program to give the students a "chance to pick flowers" and "I wanted to get kids to use their hands because of the freedom it gives them."

Loveland Primary School second grader Ian Jeffery, center, has his arms full of garden mums as his mother, Allison Jeffrey (left), talks about the plant with School Garden Program founder Roberta Paolo. (Michael Snyder photo) | ZOOM |

Paolo was selling mums Monday to help finance the program.

The program has grown and includes student-maintained flower gardens and pumpkin and sweet potato patches on the school grounds.

Thirty-five of 50 classrooms have their own gardens, Paolo said.

"We're turning the school grounds into teaching gardens," said Paolo, who has two grandchildren at the school. "All around the school - if it's dirt we can garden."

The gardens also can be used to help teach various subjects, including science, math, language and arts, Paolo said.

To learn more about the Loveland Primary School and Paolo's School Garden program, go to www.loveland.k12.oh.us/lps/psgeneral.htm.

Helping flood victims

Lutheran volunteers have donated $5,000 through Thrivent Financial for Lutherans Foundation for families who suffered damage in the June 15 flood in Butler County.

Double achiever

David Candy was named to the dean's list both semesters of his freshman year at the University of Pittsburgh, Honors College. He also captured two national titles in both the Teen and Collegiate Divisions in the bantamweight class at the 2003 National Physique Committee EAS Bodybuilding Championships in Pittsburgh.

The Archbishop Moeller High School graduate is the son of Marge and Bill Candy of Evendale.

Loans renewed

Two have received renewal student loans from the Ohio Child Conservation League:

Kyle Hanigosky, an urban planning major at the University of Cincinnati. The Badin High School graduate is the son of Karen and Michael Hanigosky of Fairfield.

Emily Timko, a student at Miami University-Hamilton. The McAuley High School graduate is the daughter of Joan and Larry Timko of Fairfield.

In Alpha Lambda

Freshman Leah Peelman has been chosen to be a member of Alpha Lambda Delta National Honor Society at Hanover College, Ind. She is a Purcell Marian High School graduate.

New inductee

Ashley Cannon, an accounting major in the Honors Plus Business program at University of Cincinnati, has been inducted into Beta Gamma Sigma Business Honorary Fraternity and Golden Key Honor Society.

She is the daughter of Carol and Bert Cannon of Colerain Township.

Our kids

If it were up to Sophie Haines, there would be no homeless cats or dogs.

Sophie, a fifth-grader at North Avondale Elementary, has spent the past two summers volunteering with the Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Animals.

The 10-year-old pets dogs, feeds them and takes them for a walk so they can get outside.

"I enjoy being with dogs and cats," Sophie said. "I want them to know that they are loved and that someone will take them into their home."

Sophie is the daughter of Jim and Reyne Haines of Clifton.

"We live in the Clifton 'gaslight area' and we see a lot of joggers, skaters, walkers and bicyclists," Reyne Haines said.

"She started giving out free lemonade, because she said the walkers and joggers usually didn't have their purses.

"While she gave out free lemonade, she started giving water to the pets. She is a child with a big heart."