LKDSB Students at Great Lakes Secondary School (GLSS) are making a meaningful difference beyond the classroom through a community partnership with Bluewater Health that will help enhance the patient experience for individuals receiving care on the hospital’s Cognitively Complex Care (CCCOG) Unit.
Students in Mr. Siebert’s Senior Woodworking class recently designed and built three raised planter boxes and a set of cornhole boards for Bluewater Health. The project was initiated after hospital staff identified an opportunity to expand therapeutic outdoor programming for patients living with dementia and other cognitive impairments.
The planter boxes and cornhole boards will be incorporated into the CCCOG Unit’s outdoor patio space, providing patients and families with additional opportunities to engage in meaningful recreational and gardening activities.
“This project is a wonderful example of what happens when schools and community organizations come together around a shared goal,” said Gary Girardi, Chief Executive Officer for the Lambton Kent District School Board. “At LKDSB, we believe these partnerships are the heartbeat of our schools. Our students are not only building practical skills in the classroom, but they are also learning the value of service, compassion, and community leadership. We are proud to be a central part of every community across Chatham-Kent and Sarnia-Lambton, and opportunities like this demonstrate the positive impact we can create when we work together.”
The CCCOG Unit is a specialized 24-bed unit that provides care and support for individuals living with dementia and other cognitive impairments. The unit’s patio serves as an important therapeutic outdoor space where patients can spend time with family members in a calm and welcoming environment.
Hospital staff noted that an existing raised garden bed had become a valuable part of patient life on the unit, encouraging movement, social interaction, reminiscence, and a sense of accomplishment through planting, watering, weeding, and harvesting vegetables. The addition of three new raised planter boxes will allow more patients to participate in these activities and further enhance the outdoor space.
“There was excitement in the air when Bluewater Health received this very special delivery from GLSS,” said Kathy Alexander, Executive Director of Bluewater Health Foundation. “We are grateful to the students of Mr. Siebert’s Senior Woodworking class for designing and building the planters and surprising us with the cornhole boards. These items will make such a difference to the patients on the Cognitively Complex Care Unit. What a wonderful example of kindness in action!”
“We are grateful for this partnership with Great Lakes Secondary School and the Lambton Kent District School Board,” said Paula Gilmore, Director, Rehabilitation Services, Stroke, Geriatrics and Rural Health, Bluewater Health. “The raised garden boxes and cornhole games, designed and built by the students, will enhance our therapeutic outdoor space and support meaningful recreation therapy activities for patients living with dementia and cognitive impairments. These opportunities promote purpose, engagement, dignity, and connection, while creating a welcoming environment for patients and families to enjoy together.”
For the students involved, the project provided an opportunity to apply their technical skills to a real-world initiative while giving back to their community. For Bluewater Health patients and families, the contribution will create new opportunities for connection, recreation, and therapeutic engagement.
The collaboration highlights the important role schools play as community partners and demonstrates how hands-on learning can extend beyond the classroom to make a lasting impact across the communities LKDSB proudly serves.