


(L-R) ) Yannira Gonzalez, Cody Woods Jr., Amy Williams, Cullen Mosley, Garrett Huntington, Ryan Sikes Instructor, Madilyn Singleton, Allison Rogers, Salard Sajel.
Mr. Sikes, a DeKalb native new to Jefferson, was delighted with the
participation by his students. He said, “It is great to see the older students teaming up guiding the young ones. Of the project, Sikes said, I want to inspire the kids and teach them life skills. Something they can use and be proud of as they get older. We couldn’t do this sort of thing without the help of Collins Academy, they are always willing to step in, be it providing seeds, soil or supplies. We really appreciate them.” Sikes said he plans to bring his horticulture students back to the primary school to help maintain the pollinator garden throughout the school year. In addition, his class will help primary students make seed balls for dispersal at Brushy Creek at Lake O’the Pines as part of a habitat remediation project with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. In this way, the younger children can participate with the high school students in a larger, remote project.


Expect to see Jefferson ISD students and Mr. Sikes working with Tony and Marsha Jones on the pocket park across from the Jefferson Post Office and at Port Jefferson History & Nature Center with Collins Academy staff in the near future.