Manchester’s two schools ended the 2012-2013 school year by coming together to build a community asset.

Despite some light rain, Manchester Academic Charter School and Manchester Pittsburgh Public came together on June 6 to plant a community garden in at the corner of Juanita and Fulton streets.

“[It] was the beginning of a great collaborative friendship between a local public school and their charter, which rarely occurs,” said Lauren Fouse, a teacher at Manchester Academic Charter School. “We would like to mark this day as a positive step for the city of Pittsburgh and our education system.”

Students from both schools worked alongside teachers, administrators and community leaders to plant herbs, flowers and vegetables provided by the mayor’s office.

“It was so wonderful to see students from different schools working side-by-side, teachers sharing ideas, and community leaders and administrators collaborating,” said Fouse.