Memory Garden grand opening at South Tahoe High School

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - The Memorial Garden at South Tahoe High School was unveiled Wednesday, a student-driven project that came from trauma and heartache after a student's suicide and the Caldor Fire evacuation.

Teacher Katie Wheelen, who is retiring after teaching special education for 42 years, applied for a grant from the El Dorado County Retired Teachers’ Association (CalRTA - Division 73 - Placerville) for the project.

About 20 years ago, Wheelen's special education students originally started work on the garden space in a courtyard outside the South Tahoe High Learning Center. It had fallen into disrepair over the years.

A Garden Party was held for teachers, staff, students, and guests from CalRTA, unveiling the hard work of Abel Arce who wanted to create a new garden space for his friend lost to suicide.

"This started as a dedication as I didn't know how to handle her suicide," said Abel. "I saw the abandoned garden and convinced teachers to help me build the Memorial Garden. I channeled my grief into this garden."

The artistic senior created his lost friend's nickname out of hands spelling it in sign language. He also found a buried log in the dirt, something he said resembled a bear someone had started. He cleaned it up and recarved it, and it now proudly has a place in the garden.

Fellow senior Michael Maxwell created a culinary herb garden in one area of the space for his Senior Project. He said he found the process very relaxing and looks forward to more gardening in the future. In the meantime, he is heading to an HVAC school in the Sacramento area after this summer.

Abel is heading to Lake Tahoe Community College for the next two years to grow his artistic talents.

The Memorial Garden also includes painted rocks as tributes and as ways to benefit students' mental health. Abel also found a birdhouse built by a previous construction class in the abandoned space. It now takes a prominent spot in the middle of the garden as a mother bird and babies are currently inside.

EMBARK donated $1,000 to furniture for the garden. Tables, chairs, and umbrellas were ordered and the school's construction class assembled them.

"A true team effort," said School psychologist Natalie Collin.

Besides a place to relax, meditate, and reflect, the garden is also being used by students stopping by to play their guitars.

The El Dorado County Retired Teachers’ Association distributes grants to teachers in the Lake Tahoe Unified School District and other areas of the county. Members Dianne Rees, Margaret Kirchgater, and Kathy McCurry were at the Garden Party to celebrate the students' success.