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CATHOLIC SCHOOLS
Saint Victor School ’ s Garden of Learning Continues to Grow
How can a school garden help students learn ? Studies have shown that when children participate in garden-enhanced nutrition education their consumption of fresh fruits and vegetables increased significantly , sometimes twofold . Since its groundbreaking more than ten years ago , the fourth grade teachers had cultivated a 6-square-foot plot which has grown now to 5,000 square feet of several plots , a makeshift greenhouse , a mini toolshed , and a grape arbor . At each harvest , students have devoured what Garden Coordinator Peggy Rendler affectionately calls , “ Nature ’ s Candy .”
• Proposed Garden Classes Research has linked healthier eating habits and better learning to gardening . The role of schools in encouraging students to be healthy is an important one . As part of the Teaching the Mind , Feeding the Soul Initiative , Saint Victor School will construct an outdoor classroom to maximize the garden ’ s capacity to gather and seat entire classes . Once it is fully constructed Mrs . Rendler will be able to expand her elective program to include weekly gardening instruction in the outdoor classroom for 177 students in grades Pre-K to 5 . Her curriculum will include garden-based science and technology with lessons such as composting with worms and lunch waste , using solar energy , and using math concepts like measurement , graphing , and data analysis . Students will gain hands-on gardening experience and first-hand exposure to biodiversity and ecological interdependence .
The school community will also build a labyrinth in the garden . Teachers plan to use the garden and labyrinth for journaling , spiritual exercises , retreats , and group counseling . The
Students at Saint Victor School work on their garden .
child-centered garden will provide opportunities for exploring nature and learning about peace and stewardship .
• Community Outreach
The school will help address the food insecurity in the greater San Jose community . The harvests yield more than three hundred pounds of organic produce each year . With the garden
April 25 , 2017 | The Valley Catholic
program expansion , the garden coordinator hopes to send larger donations to the Sacred Heart Food Pantry and the Second Harvest Food Bank .
• Community Support
Saint Victor School ’ s bountiful garden has the potential to grow . Financial and hands-on support from the school community , as well as sponsorships secured from neighborhood landscaping and garden supply vendors , will sustain the school garden long-term . Recently , the Whole Kids Foundation awarded Saint Victor School a grant . Then at their auction gala , Saint Victor parents surpassed the grant in the Fund-a-Need Appeal . With coordination and continued support for the garden of learning , Saint Victor School nurtures healthy , respectful stewards of the earth .
For more information regarding the garden , visit www . stvictorschool . org .
“ Pout Pout Fish ” Illustrator Visits Saint Clare
Illustrator Dan Hanna visits Saint Clare School .
On April 4 , Saint Clare students in grades TK to 2 were treated to a presentation by illustrator Dan Hanna . He is the illustrator for the New York Times best selling book , “ Pout-Pout Fish ” series . Along with the author , Deborah Diesen , Hanna has illustrated 13 “ Pout-Pout Fish ” books .
Hanna had the students laughing at the start of his presentation by showing them famous “ pouts ” throughout history . He continued by reading to the children , the newest book , “ The Pout Pout Fish , Far , Far from Home ” which was also the first day of publication . During the presentation , Mr . Hanna showed the students some of the drawings that led to Pout Pout Fish and other characters in the books . He told the children that he got his inspiration for the pout pout fish while he was scuba diving . He didn ’ t know the type of fish he saw but it sure looked like it was pouting . One of the secrets that Hanna let the students in on was that a pen or pencil is magic . It can be described as a magic wand in which you can create anything with it . Some people will doodle and create a fish ; while others will write and create a story . Most importantly , Hanna advised the children not to worry about making mistakes . He told them , when it comes to writing or even doodling , mistakes can be your best friend and take you in a direction you were not expecting .
In addition , Hanna also showed the students other works he has created but have not been published . All of his works can be seen on his website www . danhanna . com .
Hanna concluded the engaging appearance by signing copies of his illustrated books for students that preordered it from Hicklebee ’ s Bookstore in Willow Glen .
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Bishop McGrath Visits Saint Mary of the Immaculate Conception School
Saint Mary of the Immaculate Conception School was blessed with a visit from Bishop Patrick J . McGrath on March 29 . He was very involved with all morning activities , starting with a Morning Prayer at assembly , introduction of our Young Christian Award recipients for Trimesters 1 & 2 , and enjoyed a sneak peek of the “ Peter Pan ” performance by our talented Saint Mary School thespians !
Bishop McGrath also met with parent group leaders , spent time in the classrooms answering students ’ questions , enjoyed lunch with school Administration and Student Council members .