We create learning gardens that grow successful students.visit REALschoolgardens.org

Partner With REAL School Gardens

Build an Outdoor ClassroomREAL School Gardens works with schools to create a rich learning environment that is as important to a school’s success as a library or computer lab. More than raised veggie beds, these professionally designed and installed outdoor classrooms get children excited about learning and engaged in difficult academic concepts.

Train Your Teachers REAL School Gardens’ seasoned educators make it easy for your teachers to use the garden to boost academic achievement. We come to your school to work side by side with your teachers during class, provide customized lessons, and model effective outdoor teaching techniques. This high-touch and hands-on approach ensures that your school garden will be well-maintained and well used for years to come.

Achieve REAL Results• 94% of teachers report that their students are more engaged when learning in a REAL school garden.

• 90% of teachers report that the REAL School Gardens Program made them better prepared to help students succeed.

• The REAL School Gardens Program improves teacher effectiveness and job satisfaction.

REAL School Gardens builds gardens in low-income elementary schools and trains teachers to use them to achieve academic results. We are accepting applications for new partners. As a new partner, your school will receive a three-year outdoor classroom program package, valued at more than $90,000.

Applications due

October 31st, 2014!

We create learning gardens that grow successful students.visit REALschoolgardens.org

REAL School Gardens Partnership Application

As part of a three year REAL School Gardens Program, partner schools receive:

• A professionally managed series of staff and parent engagement events that rally the whole school around the design, creation, use and care of the outdoor classroom; this includes our signature “Design & Dine” dinner and our “Big Dig” garden installation day.

• A professionally designed garden with an array of outdoor learning features.

• Easy to implement, grade-specific lesson plans aligned with state standards and your district’s instructional sequence.

• Up to 410 contact hours of professional development for school staff including: — One full day of onsite training for the whole staff in year one — A minimum of twelve teachers receive up to three customized 45 minute “on the job” training sessions — One capstone training session for the whole staff in year three

• Evergreen Training Program: — A $500 Garden Coordinator stipend for one teacher — Three trainings for the school’s Garden Coordinator per year — Seasonal vegetable seeds and transplants, organic fertilizer, and ongoing garden advice — Priority consideration for garden enhancement opportunities and volunteer days — Participation in special programs and projects such as “Smart Potatoes” — Discounts on additional teacher training

• An annual report on the learning garden program’s impact.

• After the third year, schools can opt to continue the Evergreen Training Program at a discounted rate.

At REAL School Gardens, we don’t work for our school partners, we work with them. Our partner schools are dedicated to improving their students’ education with outdoor learning and can commit the time and effort needed to ensure their garden becomes a vital academic resource for years to come.

Direct applications and inquiries to:Scott Feille, Regional DirectorREAL School Gardens817-348-8102 fax: 817-348-8680sfeille@realschoolgardens.org

We create learning gardens that grow successful students.visit REALschoolgardens.org

Partnership Requirements

REAL School Gardens primarily partners with Titile 1 schools. We are committed to working together to raise 80% of the funds to cover the majority cost of the three-year program. We require that all of our schools contribute a program fee to cover approximately 20% of the program costs. If your school is not a Title 1 school, please contact Scott Feille, scott.feille@realschoolgardens.org, to discuss your eligibility.

School Partner CommitmentREAL School Gardens partner schools are able to commit to the following: Check each box to agree:

Cover 20% of the three year program costs at $5,000 per year for three years.

Pay annual program fee upon receipt of invoice.

Allocate additional money to the yearly learning garden budget (see the “Financial Commitments” table).

Provide letters of support and testimonials upon request.

Create a permanent garden team to help oversee creation and long-term success of garden.

Complete yearly staff surveys to help us measure the impact of learning gardens.

Set aside time for REAL School Gardens professional development sessions and ensure staff participation.

Use the learning garden regularly, during school hours, as a rigorous and relevant context for learning.

Maintain the learning garden year round, including the summer.

Assign a Garden Coordinator to attend 3 meetings each year and provide data regarding garden usage.

Establish a student garden club by year two of the partnership.

I have read the above and commit to fulfilling all requirements.

Principal Signature:

We create learning gardens that grow successful students.visit REALschoolgardens.org

School Demographics & Contact Information

Demographics

School Name:

School Street Address:

City, State, Zip:

Phone Number:

Grade Levels Served:

Number of Students:

% of Students on Free/Reduced Lunch:

Number of Teaching Staff:

Contact Information

Principal Name:

Principal Email:

Principal Summer Phone:

Principal Summer Email:

Second Contact Name:

Second Contact Role at School:

Second Contact Phone:

Second Contact Email:

Parent Liaison or PTA/PTO President:

Parent Contact Phone:

Parent Contact Email:

Names/Titles of person(s) completing application:

We create learning gardens that grow successful students.visit REALschoolgardens.org

QuestionnairesWe want to know more about your school, your challenges, and your vision for how the REAL School Gardens Program will help your school grow successful students. Please provide complete answers to the questions below. If your school is selected, this information will help us tailor our program to meet your needs. There is one questionnaire for the school principal and one for teacher/parent representatives.

We use the following rubric to score the questionnaires and determine which schools move on to the interview round. For each question, if you express: • 4+ clearly stated ideas, you receive up to 10 Points • 2-3 clearly stated ideas, you receive up to 5 Points • 1 or 2 vaguely stated ideas, you receive up to 3 Points

Principal Questionnaire

1. What do you love the most about your school?

We create learning gardens that grow successful students.visit REALschoolgardens.org

Principal Questionnaire, continued

2. How did you hear about REAL School Gardens ?

3. How would you characterize your leadership style?

We create learning gardens that grow successful students.visit REALschoolgardens.org

Teacher/Parent Questionnaire

1. How do you envision children and teachers using the garden as an outdoor classroom?

2. What systems will be in place to ensure your garden is used regularly for instruction?

We create learning gardens that grow successful students.visit REALschoolgardens.org

Teacher/Parent Questionnaire, continued

3. How will you use your garden to engage families and community members?

4. How will you ensure that your garden is maintained all year, including the summer?

We create learning gardens that grow successful students.visit REALschoolgardens.org

Help us understand how your school plans to fund your garden from year to year by completing the following budget. Typically Title 1 schools pay partnership fees of $5,000 per year for the first three years. Additional funds will be necessary for garden maintenance.

I understand that in addition to REAL School Gardens partnership fees, I must allocate additional funds to cover maintenance.

Principal Signature:

Financial Information

Garden Budget Category

Principal’s Discretionary Budget

Title 1 Budget

Content Area Budgets science, math, literacy, etc.

PTA or PTO

Adopt a School Partner

Grant Writing small grants received from organizations other than

REAL School Gardens

Other

Total Annual Allocation

AnnualAllocation

Sample Timeline

Once a potential school partner has been approved, REAL School Gardens sets out to raise funds for the three year program. It may be a year or more before we begin the garden-building process with an approved school.

• Trained educators are actively using the garden

• Strong community partnerships sustain the garden

• Option to purchase continued Evergreen Training

Selection Year 1 Years 2 and 3 Established

Oct. 31, 2014Applications due

Nov./Dec. 2014On-campus interviews

Jan. 2015Applicants notified

Educator Training:

• On the job Teacher to Teacher Training

• Evergreen Training three times annually

• Capstone Training in year three

• Design & Dine event

• Big Dig garden installation

• Full day teacher training