Latimer School is excited to announce plans to build our very own school garden and outdoor classroom! We hope to begin construction in Winter 2019, and be ready to plant in Spring 2020.  

Background

Latimer is a STEAM-focused school that uses Project Based Learning (PBL) as a key instruction method. We teach Common Core standards through in-depth project study and exploration, helping students to learn in an engaging, integrated manner.  Creation of the Latimer Garden & Outdoor Classroom will greatly enhance our hands-on, experiential PBL instruction. 

A Garden Planning Committee has spent the last year researching school gardens and thinking through the scope, uses, curriculum, funding and maintenance of a garden at Latimer.  We’re planning a large outdoor space, with nine raised beds to support PBL instruction across our nine grade levels. We’ll also have two beds for our Special Day Classes, a bed for our Extended Day Program, and a bed for a Student Garden Club. 

Observing the life cycles of plants and pollinators, calculating the perimeter and area of raised beds, and investigating soil chemistry and nutrients are just a few ways our “living classroom” will help teachers convey important science, math, history, health and language arts lessons. 

Get Involved!

At the Latimer Home & School Club meeting in September, parents approved

$17,000 for garden construction. Much of this will be needed to build a 5’ fence around the garden. Staff and volunteers are actively seeking small grants and in-kind donations to pay for additional garden expenses. 

At the HSC meeting on November 19 from 5:30-6:30 p.m., there will be a garden presentation to share information, answer questions, and recruit volunteers. 

We’re building a “Green Team” of volunteers willing to contribute time, talent and resources toward this exciting project. There will be many opportunities to help, including:

— Installing irrigation

— Building garden boxes, a tool shed, shelves and potting tables

— Planting, watering and weeding

Questions? Ideas? Interested in volunteering? Contact amycody@gmail.com.

Site Plan

Location

A big “THANK YOU”  to the growing list of organizations who’ve provided monetary and in-kind contributions and advice for the Latimer Garden & Outdoor Classroom.

— California Fertilizer Foundation

— Life Lab

— Master Gardeners of Santa Clara County

— Moreland Education Foundation

— Moreland Community Garden

— Office of San Jose VIce Mayor Chappie Jones

— Oster Elementary School Garden

— Raphdesign.com

— Saratoga Elementary School Garden