Post on 18-Jan-2018
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Maple Grove School Garden School Garden Meeting Agenda
Introduction (Liz Renneker School Garden Co-chair) Mission &
Vision What has been done to date? Benefits Jeffco School Gardens
(Emily OWinter District Healthy Schools Coordinator) Why School
Gardens? History of Gardens in Jeffco Typical progression of a
garden Question and Answers about school gardens Jeffco Garden
Curriculum Financial Support Requirements (Liz Renneker) Funding
Requirements Construction Plan School Garden Mission Our mission is
to work together as a schoolcommunity to provide experiential
learningthat will enrich and support our academiccurriculum while
promoting healthy livingand teaching life long skills. School
Garden Vision Building a successful garden will give Maple Grove:
Multiple raised beds filled with produce, herbs, and flowers An
outdoor extension of the classroom as teachers and students will
utilize the space toenrich and provide hands on learning in all
subject curriculum. An opportunity for children to harvest food
from the garden to enjoy in recipes andcafeteria salad bar Teach
children where food originates and provide life long health habits
to combat ournations obesity epidemic After school garden clubs to
expand learning in the garden Farmers Market to teach economics,
marketing, sustainability Potential for increased parent engagement
School Garden Vision Students will be involved in the planning
Students and teachers will be excited at the opportunity to
takelearning outside, breathe in fresh air, and observe life in
thegarden Students will learn to appreciate nature, dig in the
dirt, witnessscience before their own eyes Evolve into indoor
growers inside the classroom- seed starters,small greenhouses Steps
taken thus far: March 2014 April 2014
School garden proposal was introduced to the PTA board and Mr.
Stone The PTA Board reviewed it and decided to go forward with the
project Meetings held with representatives from Mitchell and
Prospect Valley to learn more about theirschool gardens. Various
school gardens were toured in person April 2014 Meeting with Emily
OWinter, Jeffco Healthy Schools Coordinator to learn about Jeffcos
schoolgarden guidelines and programs District paperwork was started
Meeting with Patti Fields, Maple Grove Facilities Manager
considering logistics Committee meeting including Mr. Stone, Mrs.
Ramaker (teacher representative), and parents todiscuss site
locations and fundraising/sponsorships Attended the School Garden
Summit to learn more about starting and sustaining gardens
inJeffCo. Respresentatives at the conference included Emily
OWinter, Whole Foods KidsFoundation, Slow Food Denver, Denver Urban
Gardens May 2014 Met with a local gardener to discuss location,
layout, and budget ofcontracting design and layout. Services are
very pricey so it was decided that we willlook harder for a
community member willing and able to help. List of businesses to
approach for support formed. June 2014 Multiple grant applications
written and submitted. Application for Whole Foods Bag Donation
program submitted and awarded! Shop Whole Foods Colfax, bring your
reusable bags, and donate the bag credit to ourgarden! Denver
Public Schools with gardens
Over 80 schools in DPShave school gardens DPS food safety
protocolfor garden to cafeteria isnow a national model A look at
area school gardens
Mitchell School Garden, Golden, CO Photo credit: Denver Urban
Gardens School Gardens Impact on Academic Performance
Boost Science achievement scores - Science educators have long
recognized the valueof school gardens in motivating students to
study science. Recent studies show thatschool gardening programs
also boost students scores on science achievement tests(Klemmer,
Waliczek, Zajicek, 2005). Develops critical thinking A study of 3rd
and 4th graders involved in a school gardenprogram supports
students inquiry, connection to natural world and engages students
inprocess of formulating meaningful questions (Habib & Doherty,
2007). Expands experiential learning - Students involved with
school gardens generally takepleasure in learning and show positive
attitudes towards education (Canaris, 1995; Dirks& Orvis,
2005). Benefits of a School Garden
Build a sense of community Observe small seeds turn into food
Instill appreciation and respect for nature that lastsinto
adulthood Improve social skills and behavior Students who
participate in school gardens reporteating healthier snacks
Students who garden are more likely to eat fruits andvegetables
Students tend to learn more and better when they areactively
involved in the learning process Jeffco School Gardens Emily
OWinter: District
Healthy Schools Coordinator Jeffco School Gardens Why School
Gardens? School Climate and Culture
Parent Involvement Enhanced Instructional Opportunities
Understanding of food systems Increased consumption of fruits
andveggies Increased likelihood of lifetime gardening Decreased
sedentary time Jeffco School Gardens History of Gardens in
Jeffco
33 School Gardens in Jeffco (3 are greenhouses) Partners: Slow Food
Denver Denver Urban Gardens Jefferson County Public Health CSU
Extension Office Garden to Cafeteria Garden Curriculum Jeffco
School Gardens Typical progression of a garden Build out: yr
1
Programing: yrs 1+ Classroom use: yrs 2+ Jeffco School Gardens
Typical Questions and Answers Funding
Programming Summer maintenance Vandalism Excess Produce? Classroom
Use Gardening can bring any aspect of the curriculum to life
We have such a wonderful opportunity to bring a school garden to
Maple Grove! Supporting and Enriching Curriculum
Research shows that project based learning improves understanding
and depth of knowledge, is essential for cross-curricular learning
and 21st Centaury Skills Jeffco School Garden Curriculum makes it
manageable for teachers to utilize All subject matter: science,
literature, social studies, history, math, health and nutrition
School Garden Construction Cost Estimate
(% By Category) NOTE: Overall % cost of categories marked with a
(*) could be reduced if volunteer labor is used vs. a contractor.
Data Source: Jeffco School Gardens
https://docs.google.com/file/d/0B-lImZd4_JUcalZkaWd6cGFHVFU/edit
How do we make this successful?
FUNDING Reach out to community connections: Donation of skill,
time, material In-Kind Donations from local businesses: monetary or
materials; names to be listed on agarden sign Grants PTA Support
How do we make this successful?
Community and staff educated and interest verified Tiered approach:
different ideas to be discussed The non negotiable items mandated
by the district and starting small with a limitednumber of beds in
the space, smaller storage shed, as examples Intro students with
teachers that are on board with utilizing the garden and
enrichingtheir curriculum and experiences Certain grade levels
trial the garden Before and after school activities: potentially
volunteer run, bring in after schoolproviders to run a unit,
different classes offered individually or as part of a garden club
Exit plan: If this should not take off after 2-3 years we will have
a plan in place todonate or sell salvageable material, bulldoze,
and resod area Moving Forward -Presentation to teachers and staff
regarding curriculum and addressing their potential concerns will
happen next week with Jeffco Healthy Schools coordinator -PTA
proposed amount will be modified and voted on at the October 8th
meeting -Garden committee will meet to discuss futher fundraising/
gathering sponsors and donations from local businesses -People can
volunteer for a small or larger role in this project -Construction
will begin and a tiered approach will be formulated