Students in environmental science class and Conservation Club traveled to Eldon Russell Park in Troy Township the week of May 9 to help in the effort to eradicate garlic mustard...
Students Battle Botanical Bully
Students in environmental science class and Conservation Club traveled to Eldon Russell Park in Troy Township the week of May 9 to help in the effort to eradicate garlic mustard, an invasive and persistent non-native plant that threatens the natural ecosystem.
This was the second year in a row that NDCL students have helped naturalists of the Geauga Park District in their ongoing battle against the botanical bully. Originally introduced from Europe as a food plant, garlic mustard is one of very few non-native plants to be able to successfully invade forest understories, greatly reducing the diversity of all species.
According to science teacher Elizabeth Ford, who organized the excursion, the efforts to restore the ecosystem are making a difference.
“We walked past the area we cleared last year and didn’t see a single garlic mustard plant there,” she said.
Sr. Joanne Keppler Honored
The Office of Catholic Education of the Diocese of Cleveland honored Sister Joanne Keppler, director of professional learning, on May 11 for her 50 years of dedicated service to Catholic education in the diocese.
In their remarks during the award ceremony at Saint Noel Party Center in Willoughby Hills, diocesan leaders praised Sr. Joanne as a trusted, knowledgeable, helpful, and reliable colleague.
“Sister Joanne is such a blessing not only to NDCL but to all of us in the Office of Catholic Education,” said Melissa Hokanson, teacher support services specialist for the diocese. “All of us count on her to support our work for Catholic education.”
During her 50 years of service in the Diocese of Cleveland, Sr. Joanne’s roles have included teacher, department chair, campus minister, assistant principal, and director of professional learning. For 34 of those years in several separate assignments, she has ministered right here on our campus. Sister previously served at Elyria Catholic High School and Central Catholic High School. Beyond the Cleveland diocese, she also taught for an additional four years at the former Notre Dame Academy in Middleburg, Va.
