Newport Mill Middle

Our goal is to develop an interactive outdoor garden that will provide: a meaningful nutritional education for our students with the outcome of encouraging more healthful food choices and healthful habits, a space for students to develop a connection to nature, a focus on building an environmental stewardship ethic , as well as an increased appreciation of certain academic disciplines. Another goal we have for our school garden is that our general education students will be working with our Learning For Independence students (LFI) and this hands on experience will give both populations an opportunity to work with students with whom they would not normally interact in the class room setting. This venue also will give both sets of students a chance to further increase their school connectedness; something that is continually needed in our community. In addition, working the garden will give our LFI students the distinct possibility of developing the kinds of job skills useful for this special needs population. The garden also provides an ideal opportunity for greater interaction with our parents , many of whom work in the areas of construction and landscaping.