ECP COHORT PROGRESS REFLECTION
The fall season is always a busy time for schools and it is no different with our school partners. For the 2022-23 school year, the ECP has hit the ground running with 11 partner schools. We have met with each school team to set 3 or 4 goals that will be accomplished over the course of the school year.
Some of our schools have used their gardens to celebrate the cultures of their community. Mary McLeod Bethune Day Academy hosted a schoolwide lunchtime taste test comparing two salsas (green tomato and roja) in honor of Hispanic Heritage month and Bruce Monroe highlighted the story of interdependence with Calabacitas con maiz y frijoles, a tasty Milpa (three sisters) stew for Teach Central America week. Friendship Woodridge gave out fragrant herbs and easy-to-grow seeds from their garden, supplemented by the WYG, during their Book-O-Ween.
Friendship Armstrong, Turner, Brightwood, and KIPP Spring have used their school gardens to share healthy, fresh foods with their community by having produce distributions from their garden and the WYG.
Other educators have focused on extending student learning with garden co-teaching and schoolwide professional development in collaboration with FONA staff.
Each school team has a diverse set of goals they want to accomplish and a unique vision for their school garden program. As the seasons change and we move to put gardens to sleep for the winter, we will work with our partners to continue their garden programs through the colder months and prepare for the spring.
-Ashley
|