CHESTER — Thirteen-year-old Jessica Newnan tugged and pulled until a clump of soggy leaves came out of the pond, firmly attached to her rake.
The Chester girl was cleaning up the pond and hoping to give the surrounding garden area a spring sprucing up, not only to make the space look nice in time for spring, but to honor the memory of her younger brother.
Jessica joined with other school volunteers and students and spent the morning of April 30 cleaning up the front areas of Chester Academy. The project, organized by Principal Leslie Leahy and other staff, joined teachers, administrators and families for the cleaning event.
For Jessica and her sister, Samantha, 10, spending a morning during school vacation week to help clean up the memorial garden in the front of the school had special meaning. The girls' younger brother, Matthew, 6, died two years ago from a genetic disease called microvillous inclusion, and the garden is named in his memory.
The garden area at the front of the school includes a pond, cascading water, plants and a butterfly garden area. The project was created two years ago by Eagle Scout Paul Rouix, a member of Boy Scout Troop 163, who wished to create a space to remember young Matthew.
"I really wanted to get the garden clean," Jessica said, as she retrieved more wet leaves from the bottom of the pond. Nearby, her younger sister was busy weeding and yanking unwanted twigs and sprouts from a perennial spot.
"This will look even better when all the gunk is out of here," Jessica added, continuing her pond work.
Both Newnan sisters are part of the Girl Scout program, making Rouix's memorial landscape work in honor of their brother all the more meaningful.
Matthew spent much of his time at his Chester home requiring much in-home care before he passed away, and developed a strong bond with area Scouts, who would come to his window and sing during the holidays.
For his Eagle Scout project, Rouix raised more than $3,000 to cover the cost of Matthew's memorial garden, which also includes a brick walkway, benches, trees and flowers.
Matthew's mother, Erin Newnan, also worked on the garden during the Chester Academy cleanup earlier this week and said her two daughters would want nothing more than to help keep their brother's garden clean and looking good for spring. She said the girls' class photos are always taken in the garden.
"They don't focus on themselves," Newnan said, adding it's all about the memory of young Matthew.
Jessica took a quick break to attend to a phone call from her dad, giving him the update on the cleaning project.
"The trees are starting to flower," the girl told her father.
Chester Academy Assistant Principal Mark Campbell said the clean-up work was part of Leahy's mission to keep the school community vibrant and active. In her first year as head of the school, Campbell said the Leahy has brought a lot of positives to Chester Academy.
"This is the kind of thing she has brought to Chester," Campbell said.
