NEWS Walnut Valley Unified School District
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 880 S. Lemon Avenue
June 3, 2013 Walnut, CA 91789
Contact:
Kelli Gile, Office of Community Resources
(909) 595-1261 ext. 31204
Vejar Garden Grows Blue Ribbon Award
WALNUT, CA—A garden is growing just outside classroom #31 at Vejar Elementary School.
And it just bloomed a blue ribbon award.
Each year, Special Education students dig into the project with the help of Instructional Aide Helene McDonald and Teacher Jennifer Troudy.
The garden provides the youngsters with an opportunity to learn the science of plants and life skills to care for them.
Students are responsible for the fruit and vegetables they plant each fall and spring during the school year.
They choose the plants for their garden, prepare the soil, weed and water the edible bounty.
Class #31 recently entered the spring garden, a handmade sheep and fruit stand in the "Lettuce Eat Healthy" Schools' Agriculture and Nutrition Fair sponsored by the 48th District.
And all three entries won top awards. The students were also interviewed about their garden by the judges.
The garden won a blue 1st Place Ribbon, the sheep took a golden 2nd Place Ribbon, and the fruit stand won a red 3rd Place Ribbon.
The students made the sheep from paper, cotton balls, yarn and polyester batting.
The fruit stand was created entirely from recycled materials.
The base of was a recycled pizza box and the colorful fruit and vegetables “for sale” were handmade by students. The top was made with construction paper and hangers that held an awning.
“They had a great time making the sawhorse sheep and fruit stand,” McDonald said.
McDonald was presented with an apple award and certificates for her enthusiasm and a first-time winning garden entry during a ceremony held at the Fairplex in Pomona on May 18.
The Agriculture and Nutrition Program at Mt. SAC College is dedicated to teaching youth. They work with teachers throughout the year to make it easier for them to teach agriculture in the classroom.
Shown:
Fifth grader Aidan Bejarano shows the eggplant he made for the vegetable cart display.
Vejar students and staff from class #31 proudly show off their prize-winning entries in the 48th District Agricultural Fair. Shown: First Row: Richard Evans, Aidan Bejarano, Ryan Kim, Brooklyn Ambriz, Brandon Ginez, Ricardo Loera, Jacob Ruiz, Mikenley Dutcher, Miss Cindy Min. Second row: Mrs. Helene McDonald, Mrs. Jennifer Troudy, Mrs. Erica Nunez and Jackelyne Montes.
Vejar Elementary School’s garden in bloom with corn, tomatoes, cucumbers, eggplant, peppers, sunflowers, watermelon, pumpkins, zucchini, cantaloupe, peas, beans, basil, oregano, strawberries and flowers.
Students with the fruit and vegetables they made for the contest. Shown: Brooklyn Ambriz, Mikenley Dutcher, Brandon Ginez, Richard Evans, Jacob Ruiz and Ricardo Loero.