Healthy Eating Makes the Grade: Garden Committee Wednesday, April 3rd – 9:00 -11:00am St. Bernard Elementary School (Learning Commons), 655 River Street
1. Welcome and Introductions:
Present: Joel Facca (St. Bernard), Linda Hartley (Crestview), Ayla Ludwig (Willow Springs Creative Centre), Lori Lukinuk (LDSB trustee), Daphne Mitchell (Franco Superieur), Nancy Wallace (Nor’Wester View), Omer Belisle (superintendent TBCDSB), Janice Piper (TBDHU Garden Co-chair), Rachel McGuiness (HEMG)
Regrets: Marg Arnone (LDSB trustee), Michelle Addison (Nor’Wester View), Denise Taylor (Gron Morgan), Jean Hall-Armstrong (St. Ignatius), Susie Splett (MacKenzie, PIC- LDSB), Flora Love-Jedruch (St. Francis), Jennifer Lailey (Agnew Johnson, Garden Co-chair), Paula Gilverson (“Right to Play” Program Officer), Amy Vervoort (Walleye & Gardener/Blogger), Laura Vieira (St. Ignatius), Alma Provenzano (St. Bernard)
2. Updates:
a. Seedy Sunday Overview: Approx. 150 people attended this year. We had good visibility and accessibility. Kids were involved in promoting School Food Gardens through our interactive booth and the play that local director, Betty Carpick volunteered her time to create/coordinate/direct. New connections were made with parents of children whom attend MacKenzie, St. Elizabeth, Gron Morgan, and Franco Superieur. Also, new connections with the Horticultural Society, “Right to Play”, and secretary to superintendent of Catholic School Board. Group feels that it is a good event to be a part of next year, as kids become part of the wider gardening community, and provide valued information on School Food Gardens.
ACTION (Rachel)- Horticultural Society meeting – find out when the annual plant sale/auction is and let schools know.
b. Board Policy Update:
Lakehead Public Schools:
The board has formed a School Garden Committee, led by Deanna Hannaford (principal of Woodcrest Elementary – they put in a big garden last year!). The committee has representation from Plant, Parent Council, Staff, Administration and HEMG (Rachel). The goal of the committee is to complete a “Process Guide Book” for the board by June. This book will ensure involvement of all school stakeholders at the appropriate time, and will provide a process for creating, maintaining, and decommissioning school gardens. It aims to be holistic in its approach, and include the integration of curriculum throughout. Once the guidebook is complete, Sherry-Lynn Pharand will facilitate the creation of the board’s policy statement. The policy piece is supposed to be a relatively quick process – all could be complete by September!
Linda Hartley updated the group that there is talk at the board level of where School Food Garden initiatives overlap with Eco-schools. The eco-schools group is working towards having a lead staff person at each school that is focused on greening and environmental initiatives. Gardening also falls under the greening/environmental umbrella. At the beginning of each school year this position should be in place by the first staff meeting.
ACTION (Rachel)- ask Christy Radbourne for the names/contacts of the “greening/environmental” leads of each school. We could then forward these leads any garden-related info to pass onto their staff. This could be a means to get info directly to staff.
Thunder Bay Catholic District School Board:
Omer Belisle (superintendent) attended the meeting to give an overview of the development of the Catholic Board’s policy and support for School Food Gardens. The board has created its policy, adapting from similar existing policy of the Vancouver School Board. The Catholic Virtues are highlighted in the policy, and matters involving Plant have also been included. The first draft was reviewed by the Board’s Environmental Stewardship Team (BEST). It was then vetted through principals and school councils, and is expected to be passed into board policy late April/early May. The board recognizes the value of school food gardens for all students, and sees the particular potential with vulnerable kids, those at risk, and those needing a more kinesthetic/hands-on approach. He mentioned that there is still a need to recognize other “Greening” initiatives, distinguishable from School Food Gardens. Likely, there will be an appendix added to this policy in the future to include other greening initiatives on school grounds. He also noted that after passing of the board policy, there will need to be promotion within schools for ensuring the integration and sustaining of these gardens. Omer intends to speak with Sherry-Lynn Pharand of LDSB about the similar processes and challenges that both boards will face.
Joel Facca added that promotion of School Food Gardens could happen through their InTouch newsletter.
Conseil scolaire de district Catholique des Aurores boreales:
Creation and use of School Food Gardens fits within the Community Engagement Pillar of the board’s Strategic Plan. The “analytical framework for community activities/grille d’analyse pour activités communautaires” is a tool to ensure that any school-related project (including School Food Gardens) has a process for being integrated and sustained in the school community. This tool can be accessed at: http://www.csdcab.ca/internet/appels_doffres .
c. School Resource Libraries
i. Update on what resources IRC and IMC now have: The IRC (Instructional Resource Centre) of the Catholic School Board, and the IMC (Instructional Materials Centre) of the Lakehead Public Board, both have 4 “How to get Started on School Food Gardens” kits available for staff to loan out. These kits include 1- “School Gardens: a how-to book for creating a school garden at your school” (by Shirley Niemi, primary teacher, Upsala Public School), 2- “How to Start a Slow Food in Schools Project” (by Slow Food Superior), 3- “Nova Scotia School Garden Resource”, and 4- “School Year Gardens: a toolkit for high schools to grow food from September to June”.
Both the IRC and IMC are also in the process of ordering other curriculum-linked garden resources, as well as doing an inventory of what garden-related materials they already have, so that these items can be highlighted to teaching staff to aid in the enhancement of student-learning!
ii. Plans to get the word out & Who can help?
a. Principals meetings? Staff Meetings? Too late to get on the agenda for April’s Principal Meetings. Still a possibility for May!
ACTION (Rachel)- For TBCDSB – connect further with Omer. For LDSB – connect with Bruce Nugent and Deanna Hannaford. Rachel will let principals know of resources and support for school food gardens. She will also let principals know that it is a great time of year to consider assigning a teacher rep to the School Garden for September. Also let them know the date of our next meeting.
b. LDSB Communications Officer, Bruce Nugent ACTION (Rachel)- meeting with Bruce April 4th. Consider “This Week at Lakehead Schools”, twitter, board website.
c. TBCDSB Communications Officer, Mike Thompson ACTION (Rachel)- meeting with Mike April 4th. Consider InTouch, board website.
d. School Packages – Not necessary at this time? IMC proposed having a “flyer”/brochure highlighting the garden-related resources sent out to each teacher.
e. IRC and IMC websites - Already publicized on IMC, ACTION (Rachel)- look into IRC
f. Other? ->Parent Involvement Committees for both boards – talk about value of School Food Gardens to Student learning/experience, and also let them know about resources available. ACTION (Rachel)- CPIC- contact Alma Provenzano to get on agenda; PIC – contact Kelly Gallagher or Catherine Haunches to get on agenda for May 7th 6:30-8:30pm.
->Health Unit ACTION (Janice)- to put in their Teacher Newsletter
-> Way to access kits for each school? - Nancy brought up the idea of having Garden Curriculum/Materials available at each school in kits, similar to the comprehensive Diversity Kits that exist under the Diversity Lead at each Public School.
3. Our Wiki Site – “a closer look at revamping” – Joel & Rachel facilitate on Smartboard
Comments and Suggestions made:
- Ongoing changes make it more user-friendly
- Take out the Blue titles on first page, since this info is already on the left hand side
- Make green print darker on the left hand side (forest green?)
- How can we make the wiki stand out so that when you google “Healthy Eating Makes the Grade” or “School Gardens” it pops up in search?
o ACTION (Joel)- tagging
o Link on city website
o Link to “Imagine a Garden in every school”, and “Sustain Ontario”
o ACTION (Janice)- Link on Health Unit website
o ACTION (Rachel)- Link on Board websites (staff resources & parent involvement sections) & Board banners
o ACTION (Lori)- Link to trustee associations?
o Link to OPHEA, Ministry of Education?
- Mentor List: ACTION (Rachel)- ask Jason Pilot from Churchill, and Rob Price & Michelle Furlotte from Woodcrest to be part of this
- Add website links to Food Share, Imagine a Garden, Sustain Ontario
- Funding List: ACTION (Rachel)- Update with short description of each funding op. And ask members if have other options to email Rachel to update this. Once up, ask Linda Hartley, Christy Radbourne, & Joel Facca to check it out and let Rachel know if any potential funders missing from section.
- Look up Carrot Cache option for funding
- Photos: Ask Deanna Hannaford to ask for photos and releases from all public schools. Ask Communications Officers to orchestrate media/photo releases from schools that are building this Spring.
4. Update on Schools with Food Gardens this Spring
Crestview: The grade 3 & 4 teachers are taking the lead and building into the Science curriculum. The school is looking into adding fruit trees next year. Starting plants and getting ready for veggies for the garden this year. They’ll have a parent watering schedule for the summer. (Linda Hartley, Garden/Eco-lead Teacher, Crestview)
Gorham and Ware: “Home & School”, in partnership with Willow Springs Creative Centre have applied for funding for a garden at the school. Willow Springs will maintain the garden over the summer. The school intends to use the produce from its harvest for the School’s Fall Open House. Many plans for student learning, gardening, creativity and community partnership! (Ayla Ludwig, Garden Intern, Willow Springs Creative Centre)
ACTION (Janice)- Send Gorham and Ware a copy of Shirley Niemi’s book.
St. Bernard: Administration is very supportive! Team of 2-3 parents and teachers. They are in process of sketching out the design of 4 garden boxes. Getting quotes on untreated lumber from a local mill. The 55-plus “Fix-it” Club will construct the boxes by May. Planning to have combination of companion plants, walking paths, mounds and rocks around. The location will be close to portable and where it can be seen. Also planning a butterfly garden with perennial milkweed. Plan to make media aware. They may hire a company to water over the summer or partner with daycare in school. Teachers on the committee will get the use of the garden started in their classrooms, and then speak with other teachers to increase use of garden. They may also involve healthy school ambassadors and school’s Eco Club. (Joel Facca, Learning Commons Resource Teacher, St. Bernard)
Franco Superieur: The school has had a small garden for several years. Last year they received a Metro Grant and built 3 raised beds with grade 3 volunteers. Daphne and Rachel (parent volunteers) led garden workshops for grade 3 classes, and worked with grade 3 & 4 teachers to coordinate a Harvest Feast Celebration. The grade 3 teachers are now planning for this year’s garden experience, finding more links to curriculum and working with Rachel and other parent volunteers for the hands-on learning components. The teachers want the garden program to happen – they look to parents to help organize and carry it out. Over the coming years, hope to involve more grades as interest grows. Possibility of starting a communication (garden blogging) piece with the Grade 4’s (and eventually Gr. 5 & 6’s). (Daphne Mitchell & Rachel McGuiness, Parent Volunteers, Franco Superieur)
Nor’Wester View: Michelle Addison, spoke of garden dreams to school principal, and she has found a Teacher Champion, Nancy Wallace, who has much previous experience championing other school gardens. Nancy and Michelle are coordinating a School Team meeting to determine the interest at the school and community level. They are going to have a display at their wellness fair on May 2nd, with their meeting of all interested parents/staff to follow on May 8th. They are optimistic that they will start their garden this May. They intend for it to be visible, in the front of school, to deter vandals. They may incorporate a garden–related aspect for the school’s Art in the Park day. (Michelle Addison (Parent Volunteer) and Nancy Walker (Teacher), Nor’WesterView)
ACTION (Janice)- Send Nor’WesterView a copy of Shirley Niemi’s book.
Woodcrest: Last year, teachers Michelle Furlotte and Robert Price were involved in a Ministry project in which Woodcrest’s school garden was started. So far this year the primary teachers are working together to plant seeds and discuss soil, gardening, etc. Michelle (gr. 2) has partnered up with Heather Pilot (JK) teacher and they have their classes working together to plant bean seeds and various flower seeds (inside in containers). They are getting together weekly to track their progress. They also planted cress seeds and will be using them in sandwiches in the near future to show the children how to use these seeds and plants as part of their nutrition. In addition, the grade 2 class is having EcoSuperior come in on May 6th to set up a worm compost bin that the class will build, observe and use as part of the school gardening. As well, Michelle is meeting with 3 other primary teachers in the next 3 weeks to plant a variety of other vegetable seeds (carrots, etc.). They are planning on growing these in containers, and hope to harvest some before school is out, to show the children from planting to harvest. They may also plant some outside into a plot in the garden. Rob Price’s classes have also started plants for the outside garden. (Michelle Furlotte, Teacher, Woodcrest)
Agnew H. Johnson: They have had an Agnew garden meeting and with Jen Lailey’s increased professional work time on the horizon, they are trying to come up with a transition for the school garden (without Jen’s ongoing volunteer coordination) and they are also discussing the sustainability of the garden. They have staff involved in food literacy work in their classes, but no other person yet that feels comfortable in the horticultural aspect of the garden. They are wondering if, next Spring, there would be a way to fund a part time (3 hours per week) coordinator for Agnew or a full-time coordinator for a school board? (Jen Lailey, Parent Volunteer, Agnew H. Johnson)
St. Ignatius: St. Ignatius received a wildlife grant to put in a garden this Spring. They have decided to build some raised garden beds and plant things that will help the environment as well as food (berry bushes, apple trees, etc.). They will also buy rainbarrels and composters. The Environment Club and Science classes will be involved. Also, the foods classes will be involved in planning, planting, and fall harvesting (they’ll make a soup/stew for a harvest meal). Not much is happening yet on the garden front, but once the snow goes the tech class will build their garden boxes. They have started a few flower plants in Gr. 12 religion class as part of their environmental stewardship unit. The biology classes will start some more seeds soon, as will some of the Foods classes. When it warms up we'll start planting. (Jean Hall Armstrong, Teacher, St. Ignatius)