Westside High School Career Center

The 2014-15 theme for Westside Community Schools is to increase student engagement in their school. A school-garden is an excellent way to engage students. The first goal is to improve academic achievement through positive student engagement via the natural world. The science and mathematics classes will have curriculum based on the garden. The second goal is to improve student physical health and nutrition. We plan to offer cooking classes to build the necessary culinary skills to create flavorful meals using the vegetables and herbs grown in our garden. The final goal is to educate and engage our students actually working the garden; by sowing, maintaining, harvesting, cooking, and eating fresh produce. The research shows that large numbers of students report “that they feel calm, safe, happy, and relaxed working in the school garden” (Habib & Doherty, 2007). Our garden will produce student hope and engagement as well as a cornucopia of healthy, fresh vegetables.