Through the generous support of donors, SBS dedicated a new outdoor learning space that supports sustainable gardening. A greenhouse and raised garden beds were purchased and built by community members and school families. Students are learning the importance of sustainable gardening. Depending on student age and academic level, students learn various skills and concepts related to life science and engineering. Students observe life cycles of plants and test how outside factors, such as water and pollution, affect plant life.
St. Bernard STEM classes are also held outdoors in a dedicated garden space.
The outdoor learning lab among other subjects, focuses on the operation of an aquaponics system. Aquaponics introduces environmental engineering to our middle school students and teaches them about a symbiotic environment in which fish and plants cohabitate.
The vision for this outside science space was inspired by Nobel Peace Prize winner, humanitarian, and scientist Norman Borlaug's work on the "Green Revolution." His work is credited with saving over a billion people worldwide from starvation.
This project based learning lab exposes our middle school to humanitarian efforts and methods of increasing our food supply through the use of innovative thinking and technology.