Upper Elementary

Founded in 2008 by acclaimed chef Marc Vetri and restaurateur Jeff Benjamin, the Vetri Community Partnership works to help kids experience the connection between healthy eating and healthy living. Through food, education and social interaction, the VCP works to give children the nutritional foundation they need to grow and thrive.

Program descriptions 

The school is taking advantage of new construction and the need to move the current garden to create a garden space with 12 large container beds within a designated School Garden spot.  Partnered with REAL school gardens, the newly designated edible garden will be further incorporated into the school days.  The students regularly use the edible garden throughout the year, integrated within their language arts, math, science and social studies curriculum. An after school Garden Club also contributes to the overall success of the beds. 
 

Our program consists of different activities.  Spring 2014, we launched a more official garden including (6) 4'x 8'x 18" garden beds to start with & plans for expansion.  A butterfly garden, outdoor classroom space, strawberry bed & (2) 6'x 8' greenhouses are in future plans.

1st Grade = "Worm Feeders" are incorporating castings into the garden from Cafeteria food waste.

4th/5th Grades are involved in 'Farm to School' & after-school STEAM program gardening class.

The mission of Montemalaga Elementary School is to prepare our students to assume productive, meaningful, and responsible roles in an increasinly competitive global society.  To achieve this, we strive to establish students who value healthy hearts, healthy bodies, and healthy minds.  Our school garden fosters this learning process as we provide our students with the raw materials and opportunities to develop an apprecition for all the beauty and wonder a garden can hold.