Medlock Bridge Elementary School Grows Young Minds and Gardens

One of MBES’ strategic goals is to support a more flexible learning environment so students feel comfortable and excited about learning. The garden space and newly-renovated outdoor classroom space extend that flexibility outside the school walls. The garden space is a classroom and a lab.

“Students are fully engaged in investigating and recording data on the plants, soil, insects and the weather,” says Leigh Martin, Media Center Specialist at MBES.

The garden is also a peaceful place where teachers can take their classes for reading or relaxing or even having a snack on three new picnic tables. And, each grade level within the school was assigned a raised garden in which to plant seeds or vegetables. They are responsible for maintaining and watering the garden. This gives students and staff the opportunity to enjoy the outdoors while learning valuable information and skills.

A brick fundraiser was held that allowed past and present families to purchase a brick to include in pathways in the garden. Families could indicate the verbiage they wanted included on the bricks. Most families put student names and years at MBES.

Parents, students and staff enjoyed the unveiling of the new student garden at the school’s Spring Carnival. In this beautiful, newly landscaped space is the brick pathway, a gravel walkway and three new picnic tables. This is a learning garden, which will be enjoyed by students for many years to come.