ALUMNUS TEAMS UP WITH EDUCATORS

Brings Living Wall to Life

After our beautiful Innovation Center was finished, educators Vicki Roessler and Dr. Aarti Brooks talked about how nice it would be to do something creative with the space that once occupied a stairwell. They talked about moving the library's big fish tank to the area, but it's too big to be transported to a different space. Around this same time, Principal Julie Barthel had a conversation with Jack Fleck '12 at a football party and discovered he works for Naturspire, a company that installs living walls. A living wall, or a green wall, is a vertical garden system where plants are grown on a structure attached to a wall. One conversation led to another, and soon Fleck installed a living wall near Cathedral's science wing.

"It is hard to put into words how meaningful this project has been for me," says Fleck. "To design and build something that should stand strong and proud and last far longer than I will ever be part of this world; the feeling is quite indescribable for me, especially keeping in mind my history as a student-athlete at Cathedral." Fleck played football for Cathedral, and holds the record for the longest punt, 65 yards, and longest average punt record during a 4A state championship. Fleck now coaches kickers and punters for the Cathedral Fighting Irish and the Marian University Knights.

Once the wall was installed, Roessler and Brooks picked up the ball and ran with it. The Mother's Club awarded Roessler a $1,000 grant, which helped her buy a new smaller fish tank and supplies. Over Christmas break, she started painting the walls. During J-Term, Brooks helped with a second coat of paint. A group of freshmen assembled the fish tank, while others worked with Theatre Technical Director Michael Moffatt to build the benches. Since J-Term, Roessler has spent many weekends and days off working on finishing the walls and helping Fleck install plants and frames. And Mic Roessler, former Cathedral art teacher and Fleck's former football coach (and Vicki Roessler's husband) helped draw the letters on the wall and hang planters.

"I hope the students feel the same way I do about it," says Roessler. "I hope it lifts their spirits and brings them both excitement about STEM, as well as a calming, confident feeling. And I hope it inspires students to have a positive attitude towards STEM and to give STEM classes a try."

Next school year, the plan is to have the AP Environmental Science class take care of the plants, providing students with hands-on experience in plant care and environmental science. This will not only enrich their learning experience but also foster a deeper appreciation for STEM. Roessler will continue to take care of the fish tanks, ensuring that our living wall remains a vibrant and inspiring part of our school environment.

Special thanks to Vicki Roessler, Mic Roessler, Dr. Aarti Brooks, and Michael Moffatt for their hard work on this beautiful space! And, of course, thank you to Jack Fleck for bringing new life to the area with the living wall. Those interested in learning more about living walls can visit www.naturspire.com.