On Monday, March 4th Ashlyn Morton's Annex classroom and Jo Pace's science classes joined together to transplant plants that Ashlyn Morton's class started from seeds.
The Annex Program serves students with cognitive disabilities and includes students in 6th-12th grades
.
Morton's class planted corn, tomatoes, cucumbers, and sunflowers. Morton said the materials including planter boxes, soil, and seeds were purchased using her classes' Wildcat Bakery Funds.
Wildcat Bakery is a fundraiser that involves Morton's class baking goods such as muffins and brownies, using specialized adaptive equipment. The treats are then sold to Hardee Junior High and Hilltop Elementary faculty and staff.
The project aimed to teach students the life skills necessary to grow a garden and then partner with a class to create awareness and
inclusion
opportunities within Hardee Junior High School. Morton said, "It is something I have done at previous schools, and growing a garden provides a way to practice so many skills." Jo Pace's daughter, Aundrea Pace has been working in the annex classroom since November. Aundrea saw the need for inclusive partnerships and contacted her mom, a science teacher at HJH. Jo Pace said, "
Aundrea mentioned the project and that Morton wanted to integrate general education students with the Annex students. Pace said, "I spoke to my students and they were VERY excited to help out." Pace shared that participating students were from her 3rd and 7th-period Science classes. Jo Pace required her students to have all of their work up to date, have at least a B in class, and present good moral character to be selected to visit the Annex program.
Morton said, "It was amazing! I love getting to see my students interact with students from general education classes. I also love seeing the way the general education students transform when they get to work with my students. Jo shared that together, students from both classes formed a team that embodied the spirit of kindness and understanding as they wanted to positively impact the Annex department. Both Morton and Jo Pace felt that this project was a mutually beneficial partnership between the two classes.
The future of this project includes maintaining the garden and hopefully harvesting vegetables that will bring the two classes back together for future projects.
Picture 1-Erin Malloy and Tyler Salas planting vegetables in the annex garden.
Picture 2-Front Row- Tyler Salas, Easton Amig Back Row- Erin Malloy, Vivianna Hurado-Dominguez, Colson Stevens, Joaquin Nava-Guerrero, Alejandro Paulino-Mendieta, Jesus Palacios and Seth Armstrong (from L to R) Rick McCumber proudly waters the newly planted vegetables.
Picture 3-Alejandro Paulino-Mendieta fills the planter boxes with soil.
Picture 4- Students in the annex program are joined by students from Ms. Jo Pace's class to work on a gardening project. Rick McCumber and Tyler Salas poor soil into the planter boxes with help from student Erin Malloy.
Picture 5-
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Jesus Palacios waters newly planted vegetables while students from Ms. Jo Pace's class wait to assist.
