Fresh off celebrating its 100th anniversary, St. Anne’s School welcomed dozens of guests Tuesday afternoon for the official ribbon-cutting of its newest educational asset: the St. Anne’s Learning Garden Lab. Students greeted visitors at the garden gate, offering stickers of the school logo before families, dignitaries, and supporters settled in around the edges of the outdoor classroom.
Porterville Chamber of Commerce CEO Kristy Martin opened the ceremony, welcoming community members and a crowd of more than a dozen CAL FIRE firefighters, who formed a line along the garden perimeter. Representatives from State Senator Melissa Hurtado, State Senator Shannon Grove, and Assemblywoman Alexandra Macedo’s offices were also present, along with Chamber board members, St. Anne’s staff, and parents.
“St. Anne’s school has long been a cornerstone of faith, education, and community here in Porterville,” said Martin. “Today’s ribbon cutting reflects their ongoing commitment to creating a safe, creative, and hands-on learning space where students can explore and grow and connect with the world around them. The garden is an investment in the future of the students and a testament to the school’s dedication to nurturing education in all forms.”
St. Anne’s Principal Kayla Trueblood thanked supporters and described the garden as a project rooted in collaboration, faith, and a focus on hands-on learning. She expressed gratitude to donors, volunteers, CAL FIRE, and school families who spent countless hours making the new green space a reality.
“Looking ahead, we hope this garden becomes a thriving outdoor classroom, one that allows students from preschool through eighth grade to learn through hands-on exploration, to discover the joy of growing and nurturing, and to deepen their understanding of the natural world,” said Trueblood. “We also hope it serves as a reminder to show gratitude for God’s creation and to care for it with intention and love. Thank you all for believing in this project and for helping us create a space where learning, stewardship, and community can flourish.”
She then invited Tarah High, the teacher who spearheaded the project, to the podium to speak and briefly outline two years of hard work, the labor filled with love and end result of work from hundreds of hands.
High offered a heartfelt, detailed account of the garden’s journey from conception through completion. What began with the donation of a storage shed, she said, soon grew into a complete transformation.
She honored the St. Anne’s Auxiliary for funding early needs; the Tulare County Foundation for Ag Education for tool grants; parent volunteers who poured cement pads and installed raised beds; Prescott Ranch for brick caps; Crouzet Irrigation for donating the entire irrigation system; and Superior Soil for supplying a truckload of high-quality soil.
She highlighted middle school students who helped construct beds, alumni who represented the school during grant presentations, and teachers who supported the educational vision behind the space.
CAL FIRE received special recognition for filling the beds with soil, laying gravel pathways, assembling shade shelters, and providing picnic benches.
High also thanked Father Dan Avila and Deacon Jorge Santoyo for grounding the project in faith, and the many families who donated time, labor, and materials.
“A green space is a blank canvas ready for the natural beauty of the earth to be painted upon it. The crops in these garden beds will change season to season, and the projects nurtured here will both inspire and be inspired from generation to generation,” said High. “My hope is that through the efforts of those gathered here today, this green space will continue to offer students meaningful opportunities to experience the beauty and wonder of God’s creation, and to provide students a space worthy of the depth of that reflection.”
Following the speeches, dignitaries stepped forward to present official certificates of recognition.
Representatives from Hurtado, Grove, and Macedo all praised the collaboration behind the project, congratulating the school on its centennial and highlighting the garden’s value as both a learning space and a place for reflection and prayer.
Martin also presented Trueblood with certificates from the City of Porterville and the Porterville Chamber of Commerce, recognizing the school’s commitment to education, environmental stewardship, and community impact.
With students playing in the background, guests gathered at the front of the garden for the official ribbon-cutting. After the ribbon was snipped, Father Avila offered a blessing over the new space, dedicating it as a place for growth, curiosity, and spiritual reflection.
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