THE LEARNING GARDEN

Conservation and ecology are two important themes at our school. After the construction of many new classrooms in the new quad, the play lot was left dry and parched. Grass would not keep and rain water washed right over the land. To solve this problem, the school embarked on the Learning Garden project in an effort to both nourish and replenish the Earth and nurture and teach our students.

School gardens have a number of different uses which can be both practical and educational. School gardens provide an environment in which students can learn to work with teachers and parents while growing plants and learning the relationship between people, plants and wildlife. The only limiting factor to the lessons that can be taught at the garden site is one’s creativity. A school garden can be viewed as a special type of learning center.

For ISoM, the Learning Garden project was necessary for a number of reasons such as solving drainage issues, providing a proper grassy area for the children to play and beautifying the area within the school grounds. The Learning Garden has entered into its first phase this year with the planting of the flower garden. Flowers now abound in colors of purple, yellow, and red. Students and teachers will cooperate in the care and upkeep of our flower garden. Once the Earth has been renewed, the Learning Garden will then become a space for both playing and a place for growing. In its second and third phases, students will transplant grass for the new play area and then plant vegetable and herb gardens for our school cafeteria.

The Learning Garden is open to the children, volunteers (parents and former students), teachers, other school staff, and locals (such as women’s clubs or community groups) who may be interested in garden and landscaping projects.