School & Family Magazine Newstand Cedar Hill ISD February 2018 | Page 15

Throughout the year, all core classes included lessons that related to the garden. “They had to do
a cost analysis for the materials, determine what would grow best in our climate, and read literature
about agricultural life,” Robinson explains.
The students were placed in groups to create a plan. Kyle Givens was a member of the winning
team. He credits the concept and design for the win. “We had a diverse mix of fruits and vegetables,”
he says. “Our pamphlet had a professional look.”
After the harvest, academy students will share with their peers cooking demonstrations and the
benefits of eating healthy.
W.S. Permenter Middle School Entrepreneurship & Design Academy
Students used their entrepreneurship and design skills during the fall semester to spread the word
about the challenges of homelessness. Teacher Karla Stanford led the seventh-graders through the
experience.
The students took on the persona
of a homeless person and journaled
their lives. Math lessons focused on
budgeting through difficult situations
that sometimes lead to a life on the
streets. Online research and in-
person surveys with staff, peers and
family resulted in a student-created
magazine.
For seventh-graders Byron Dean and
Sierra Googe, their most significant
lessons from the project aren’t found
in a schoolbook. “Being homeless
makes you feel bad about yourself,”
Dean says. “There needs to be a
person to help them feel good about
themselves.”
Googe echoes her classmate’s
sentiment. “They put up with a lot of
disrespect on the street. It was eye
opening to see how expensive it is to
live today.”
Students held a donation drive for
food, hygiene items and school
supplies throughout December.
Byron Dean, Sierra Googe and their fellow students created blessing boxes for the homeless.
15