Katlyn Doster, a teacher at Fairview Elementary School, wanted her students to learn healthy habits for life so she submitted an application for an NEF grant. Her project, Cultivating Community Health through Urban Gardening, was funded and covered the costs for the purchase of garden bed materials, a compost bin, tools and outdoor storage and seeds.
The beds are in and the students are now studying soil to learn what makes soil good for growing a garden.
The garden is not just a pretty place for things to grow but an outdoor classroom that will provide a rich learning environment for students of all ages, over 500 of them!
From Katlyn’s grant application,
“In our garden we will learn to predict, plan, observe, measure, research, and help take away stress. The goal is for all students to be able to come to the garden to learn, to work, and to just take a breath of fresh air.”
A recent grant to NEF from the USDA Farm to School Program will provide funding for additional garden projects at Eastside High School, Clements Middle School, Porterdale Elementary and South Salem Elementary.
Donations made to the Newton Education Foundation support great, teacher-driven projects that inspire learning and growth in schools across the county. Donate at newtoneducationfoundation.org/donate or check out our business sponsorships at newtoneducatoinfoundation.org/business