ACPS School Gardens Program

It's Read Across America Week📚

Check out these garden themed books and get inspired to grow a garden🌱

The warm weather this week has us thinking back to our summer gardens☀️ The school garden at Charles Barrett Elementary School was flourishing!

Shout out to all the students and families who helped keep the gardens watered throughout the summer🌱

Teamwork makes the dream work ✨

As National School Lunch Week comes to a close, we wanted to shout out Chef Jason and Chef Laura for helping make this lunch possible at Lyles-Crouch Traditional Academy.

If you can't tell from their smiling faces, the basil pesto pizza was a hit! Fourth graders reaped a huge reward when they were able to harvest leaves from basil planted by last year's fourth grade class.

Happy Earth Day from Junior Girl Scout Troop 60166 🌎

In honor of Earth Day, these Mount Vernon Community School students got their hands in the soil! They not only worked on completing their Gardener Badge, but gave back to their school community by tending to their school garden. The girls worked together to w**d, add new soil to the raised beds, and plant seeds for veggies and wildflowers.

We can't wait to see how the garden grows💚

It's the most wonderufl time of the year...National Gardening Month!

The School Gardens Program is gearing up to grow veggies, herbs and flowers in our gardens this spring.

These gardening STARS were ready to get growing in Douglas MacArthur Elementary School's old garden space. Check out this sneak peak of the terrace garden that's under construction at their new building. Stay tuned for the full reveal later this spring🌱

It's the first day of spring and it's 🌱

In the fall, students at Charles Barrett Elementary School prepared this raised bed by pulling w**ds and adding soil. They transplanted a variety of kale and lettuce from Greenstreet Gardens and tucked them in for winter under frost cloth.

Last week they had their first big harvest!

Shout out to ALL of the farmers helping to feed our communities and to these young farmers in training!

The first edition of our quarterly newsletter is here! We're excited to share what's been happening in the School Gardens Program🌱

We'd love it if you'd subscribe to our newsletter to stay up-to-date on our school gardens across the district. Once subscribed, you'll be able to check out the Fall 2023 edition 📰

Subscription 🔗 https://www.parentsquare.com/community_signups/62755602-e100-40c9-bbeb-84fc5824068c/new

A happy bed of greens planted by students Charles Barrett Elementary School 🌱

It's Thankful Thursday! Every Thursday this month, we'll be featuring an individual who helps to make our School Gardens Program a success.

Today, we're SO thankful for Ms. Mehrman! She is an intervention teacher and the School Garden Liaison at George Mason Elementary School. Ms. Mehrman formed a Garden Team of 5th graders who support younger students in the school garden. Garden Team members are able to build leadership skills, build relationships and develop language skills all while helping their school community!

💚Thank you Ms. Mehrman for supporting the School Gardens Program💚

Drop a 👏 in the chat to show Ms. Mehrman some love!

Be sure to give us a follow to see who we're thankful for next Thursday📅

Today is National S.T.E.M. Day and the weather was perfect for math and science lessons in the school garden!

Check out these kindergarteners at Jefferson-Houston PreK-8 IB School planting pretty pansies in a pattern🌼
____

National STEM/STEAM Day is celebrated every year on November 8 to encourage kids to explore their interests in science, technology, engineering, arts and math careers.

It's November -- a time often spent reflecting on who and what you're thankful for. Every Thursday this month we'll be featuring an individual who helps to make our School Gardens Program a success.

Today, we're SO thankful for Dennis Morrison! While he was too shy for a photo, what you see here is the work of his hands. We are so excited to have a new greenhouse to support the School Gardens Program. Dennis is a carpenter with the Office of Maintenance and Custodial Services and has been employed with Alexandria City Public Schools for 14 years.

💚Thank you Dennis for supporting the School Gardens Program💚

Be sure to give us a follow to see who we're thankful for next Thursday📅

As you can see, these cooler temps are PERFECT for growing kale.

Kale is a cool-season crop that can tolerate frost and even snow. A little frost even makes kale taste sweet! During cold temperatures, the plant transforms complex carbohydrates into smaller sugar molecules.

What’s your favorite variety of kale to grow?