Spring Hill Elementary has been named the 2018 School of the Month by Georgia Shape for its school garden initiative.
Jeff Eller, Spring Hill’s technology teacher, started the school garden back in 2016 to serve as a way to bring together the community while providing healthy foods for Spring Hill families. Since then, it has grown into its very own classroom where students have the opportunity to learn and gain hands on experience by growing and harvesting various fruits and vegetables such as corn, strawberries, carrots, Brussel sprouts, and tomatoes. The harvested fruits and vegetables have also been used by the school system’s school nutrition program in taste tests to gauge reactions to proposed new menu items.
Fayette County’s School Nutrition director Kokeeta Wilder was so impressed by the garden that she and her team nominated Eller and Spring Hill Elementary for the Georgia Shape recognition, a monthly highlight of school initiatives used to promote physical activity, nutrition, and health and wellness.
“Mr. Eller’s initiative shows students where food comes from, and they are able to see the entire process, and are involved from the beginning to the end,” says Wilder.
Spring Hill’s garden initiative was featured on Georgia Shape’s website as well as various social media platforms.
Georgia Shape is Governor Nathan Deal’s statewide, multi-agency and multi-dimensional initiative that brings together governmental, philanthropic, academic and business communities to address childhood obesity in Georgia.
