K-M KoMets score big on and off the field

On the football field, the Kasson-Mantorville KoMets are known for their grit, determination, and teamwork. But recently, the players traded their cleats for work gloves, and the scoreboard for a wheelbarrow.
Nineteen KoMets showed up with shovels, rakes, and plenty of spirit to tackle a different kind of challenge: moving 12 yards of mulch to refresh the K-M Peace Garden.
With laughter, good-natured ribbing, and more than a little muscle, the team made quick work of the task.
“They were all in,” K-M Elementary Peace Garden coordinator Sharie Furst said. “The same way they pull together on the field, they pulled together here. It was really something to see.”
The K-M Peace Garden, tucked into school grounds, isn’t just a pretty corner of greenery. It’s a living classroom where students explore nature with their hands and hearts. Teachers can use it as a springboard for lessons in science, math, art, and even social studies. Measuring plant growth becomes a math problem. Painting rocks with words of kindness becomes an art project with a purpose. Designing stepping stones teaches planning and creativity.
But the garden offers even more than academics. It’s a place where students learn to work together and a way to promote peaceful play. They care for living things and discover patience as they watch a seed sprout into a flower. It gives children a break from screens and four walls, replacing them with sky, sunshine, and fresh air. It’s amazing how much calmer and happier the kids can be when talking about how to treat our earth and our friends when they are outside among flowers, plants, and insects. They find a quiet space to listen, reflect, and just be.
The impact goes far beyond the plants. Students build empathy and responsibility as they care for the garden and each other. They see firsthand how rain, drought, and weather shape the natural world. They learn to problem-solve, observe, and think critically — skills that will serve them far beyond the garden. And while they’re at it, they get exercise, fresh air, and a chance to unplug from the sedentary side of modern life.
For the KoMets, lending a hand was about more than mulch. It was about investing in a space that gives so much back to younger students. By pitching in, they made sure this outdoor haven remains a place where kids can discover the joy of learning, the peace of reflection, the value of how we treat each other and the wonder of nature.
With grins on their faces, the players who are used to moving the ball down the field moved mulch over the garden but scored once again for the community.
With their hard work, the K-M KoMets showed that victories don’t always come with a final whistle. Sometimes, they grow from teamwork, service, and the simple act of giving back.
If any community members are interested in helping with the up-keep of the K-M Elementary School Peace Garden, please contact Sharie Furst at furstsharie@gmail.com