Main photo: (From left) Susie Stronach, Cody Scott, Vinnie Melvin, Jackson MacDonald, Xixi Deboer, Coltin Marshall, Jennifer Nilsen, and Tasha Kupi (submitted)
The PALS class at Pine Glen has put skills they have learned this year to work in their very own vegetable garden.
Led by special-ed teacher Susie Stronach and her co-workers Tasha Kupi and Jennifer Nielson, the students’ goal is to have vegetables ready in time for a class-wide Thanksgiving dinner this fall.
The PALS program at Pine Glen is a practical lifeskills-based program that focuses on making sure what the students learn is applicable to them in the future. While the majority of classes across Ontario have transitioned to online learning, special ed classes are still being taught in person. Stronach thought it was the perfect time for her students to get to work on this project.
The Pine Glen PALS program is for grades 4 through 8 and kids come from around the Huntsville area to be part of it once they reach this age range. As the special ed program at Spruce Glen will be moving over to Pine Glen, the students thought the Thanksgiving meal this fall would be a fun way to welcome their new classmates.
All seven of the current students are involved in the garden project and each are able to showcase their talents through different roles.
Some kids water the garden, some were responsible for assembling the gardens themselves with power tools (with assistance), and others designed it. Seeds and wood for the planters were donated by the students’ families.
After the students completed the garden build, Stronach reached out to the community via Twitter to see if any local companies would donate soil. DB Maw Landscaping answered the call.
“The garden has been one of the best ways to integrate so many different skills into the curriculum. It incorporates math, literacy, researching skills, time management, and more,” said Stronach.
The kids even learned how to calculate how many plants it would take to feed the class and drew the plan for the gardens out on grid paper.
“They were so proud of themselves,” said Stronach. “It allowed everyone to participate and show their skills. It’s so important to see these kids’ abilities in a positive light and create projects that are very meaningful.”
The students are now studying how the plants, which include tomatoes, beets, lettuce, squash, cucumber, and potatoes, have been growing.
“People call our kids special needs but it’s more important to recognize that they just have different strengths,” said Stronach. “We can tap in wherever the kids interests are because I find that hands-on projects are the best way to get them actively engaged.”
The teachers will be leaving rain barrels outside the building so that the kids can stop by to water the gardens while school is out for the summer.
“When everything in the world is topsy-turvy it’s been awesome to see them set a goal and persevere,” said Stronach. “The kids have been able to realize their own strengths and skills and contribute to their community in a positive way.”
The class is welcomes more soil and plant donations — contact Stronach at [email protected].
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What a wonderful idea!
Congratulations to all involved.
It’s certainly important these days to teach young people about resilience and food sustainability.
I hope other schools follow this great initiative.