Kenny Community School Memorials
Matthew was a 4th grader in Ms. Ryan's room at Kenny Community School. Kenny is a small K-5 elementary school at the corner of 57th and Emerson in southwest Minneapolis. It has a beautiful garden surrounding the school, a diverse student population, and a dedicated staff of teachers, education assistants, specialists, and administrators. Matthew transfered there in 2nd grade to be part of the Autism program. A number of people there helped him learn how to handle his Asperger's Syndrome and he came to be a thriving student and boy.
After Matthew died, Mr. Darwin Lee, the chief garden architect and a 5th grade teacher at the school, asked us about memorializing Matthew with a tree on the school grounds. A ginko tree was planted on June 5, 2009, which would have been Matthew's 10th birthday. Prior to Nathan helping Mr. Lee plant the tree, Matthew's friends and classmates wrapped ribbons on the branches of the tree.
Here are some photos from that day:
