Posted February 11, 2025
East High School’s greenhouse has been part of the building for generations, however, it has been widely overlooked. Over the years, pipes stopped working, equipment became outdated, and the space was largely unused. That all changed when a group of passionate students decided to take action. They formed the Greenhouse Club three semesters ago and began the challenging task of cleaning out and restoring the greenhouse.
With the support of janitors and faculty, the students cleared out debris, repaired windows, and set up an organized system for plant care. Today, the club has grown to 35 members and continues to expand its impact.
The East Greenhouse Club has been awarded a $3,000 grant from the DPS A to Z Fund to support upgrades in the East Greenhouse. This incredible achievement is a testament to the dedication and hard work of the club’s members, who have spent countless hours revitalizing this decades-old space.
A key feature of the greenhouse is a 100-gallon fish tank, home to four goldfish (names to be determined by club member Alex Reed). The club has also integrated seven plant towers donated by John Olander and Atlas Farms, placing them in classrooms to enhance botany education and testing ways to incorporate them into lesson plans.
While the club has made significant progress, there’s still work to be done. The club is still looking for donations to be able to pay for soil, seeds, and pots. There currently are three plant towers set up, but they are looking to purchase another four that will go into various classrooms around East.
“If Alex wasn’t in charge, we wouldn’t have made any progress over the last two decades” –Nick Vielhauer, East Physics Teacher & Science Department Chair
Alex Reed, dedicated Club President, has been instrumental in the greenhouse’s revival. Club members credit Alex for making consistent progress on the space over the past two decades. His personal history with botany, inspired by his mother and grandmother, is cultivating a plant-based learning environment at East.
Alex, alongside Co-President Amelia Keglovitz, structured a leadership team to manage different aspects of operations:
The club is looking for ways to further integrate their work into the school community. One exciting initiative involves connecting with the Culinary Arts program to explore how crop production can tie into cooking classes.
Despite the club’s incredible progress, many students and staff are still unaware of the greenhouse’s transformation. The club has been working to promote its efforts through school events like the Club Fair and encourages anyone with a passion for plants to get involved.
With the A to Z Fund grant and continued community support, the future of the East Greenhouse is looking greener than ever. Congratulations to the East Greenhouse Club—your dedication is making a lasting impact on East High School!
