WHAT: Fern Creek Elementary will be the first school in Central Florida to plant an American Heart Association (AHA) Teaching Garden as part of an innovative national, school-based program to re-establish what it means to be healthy. The Plant Day Celebration will be held on Thursday, Sept. 26 at Fern Creek Elementary and will include an educational demonstration by local chef Joseph Diaz of Café 118 in Winter Park with assistance from the US Green Builders Council.
The Fern Creek Elementary Teaching Garden was created using American Heart Association science and nutrition guidelines as well as information from gardening and education experts. The program combines nutrition education with garden-based learning. It is a real-life laboratory where students learn how to plant seeds, nurture growing plants, harvest produce and ultimately understand the value of good eating habits. Numerous studies have shown that participating in school garden programs can improve students’ attitudes about fruits and vegetables. Childhood obesity continues to be one of our nation’s urgent health treats. Today, one in three children and adolescents in the U.S. are overweight or obese.
Fern Creek Elementary was specifically chosen because of their great need – 20-25 percent of the students are considered homeless and it is a Title I school with 90 percent of their students on the free/reduced lunch program. Aimed at lower-income elementary school students, the Teaching Garden program provides hands-on learning experiences rooted in offering nutritional choices.
While this is a national program, the Fern Creek Elementary Teaching Garden is sponsored locally by PNC Bank.
WHEN: Thursday, September 26, 2013
9 a.m. – 10:30 a.m.:
- · Introduction, welcome from the principal and AHA representatives
- · Construction of planter and compost, preparing for seedlings to be planted
1 p.m. – 2:30 p.m.:
- · Students will plant seedlings
- · Educational vegetable and juicing demo by local chef Joseph Diaz of Café 118.
WHERE: Fern Creek Elementary – 1121 N Ferncreek Ave Orlando, FL 32803
WHO: Confirmed guests include Dr. John Patrick Galatowitsch, Principal, volunteers from US Green Builders Council and local chef Joseph Diaz of Café 118.
Invited guests include, Dr. Barbara Jenkins, OCPS Superintendent, Dr. Jesus Jara, OCPS Deputy Superintendent and Patricia Fritzler, OCPS North Executive Area Director.
Students will be mostly second graders with the help from older students and volunteers.
WHY: Studies show that healthy behavior positively impacts learning. The goal of the program is to improve children’s health.
- · Nearly one in three American children is overweight or obese.
- · American eating habits are leading to modern day “malnutrition,” with diets full of foods that have little nutritional value.
- · French fries make up one-fourth of children’s vegetable intake and are the most common vegetable. Fruit juice, which may lack important fiber found in whole fruits, accounts for 40 percent of children’s daily fruit intake.
