Planting Good Seeds!

AIM students take on challenge of school garden.

By Kara Rankin,

Principal School gardens have been around for over 100 years, and school districts continue to use them today to establish healthy eating habits, as educational tools in the classroom, and to promote community inclusion.

In February of 2023, our school secretary, Jodi Woolf, and 2nd Grade teacher, Jordan Gerber, of AIM Academy submitted an application for $500 to the “Putting Down Roots” Farm to School Program by the Stark County ESC. The greenhouse and horticulture efforts in classes across CCSD were a large inspiration for AIM to take on the challenge of a school garden.

The goal was to create a space for students at AIM to grow fresh fruits and vegetables, and experience the refreshment that comes from gardening. The grant was awarded and planning began! The after-school program wanted to become involved and used funds to purchase a small greenhouse that was assembled in the playground area.

Students in 2nd grade and in the after-school program began growing their knowledge of plants by first learning about the life cycle of a seed. They then planted seeds and cared for them while they grew!

Students have planted vegetables, herbs, and fruit seeds thus far, and have generated more than 100 plants from their seed plantings!

Hello Bulldog Nation!

Next, thank YOU! The voters of Canton approved a bond issue that will mean two brand-new, state-ofthe-art elementary schools. We are excited to move forward with plans to tear down Mason Elementary and the former Souers Jr. High and replace them with K-6 buildings. Our parents and teachers have said that neighborhood schools allow for fewer transitions and more solid relationships between students and staff. I’m happy our taxpayers have agreed on the importance of investing in our schools.

For those of you who once attended or worked at Mason or Souers and would like to check those buildings out one more time, we will be