About The champion newspaper. (Decatur, GA) 19??-current | View Entire Issue (Oct. 9, 2025)
LIFESTYLE THE CHAMPION, THURSDAY, OCTOBER 9 - 15, 2025 • PAGE 13 572 ST @ wirel sit 5 Students, teachers, administrators, school board members, and supporters participate in the ribbon cutting for Rock Chapel Elementary Schools new garden. Photos by Gale Horton Gay Vegetable garden sprouting at Rock Chapel Elementary School BY GALE HORTON GAY LIFESTYLE EDITOR Organizers of a fledgling garden at Rock Chapel Elementary School in Lithonia promise that by Thanks giving its six garden wood boxes will be flush with vegetables. A ribbon cutting was held for the garden on the back side of the school Oct. 3 with school board members, teachers, parents, students, and supporters in atten dance. Interim principal Tameka Mu hammad said Rock Chapel's theme for the school year is "watch us grow" and that pertains to aca demics as well as learning outside the classroom which can be shared with family and the community. "For me the garden is more than seed and soil," said Muham mad. "It's about a living classroom, students growing in knowledge, responsibility and pride. When we nurture plants, we nurture our mind and heart." Muhammad expressed joy seeing the garden officially open and the students and community coming together. Assistant principal Demetria Miller told the audience that the gardening project dovetails with math, reading, writing, science, responsibility, pride, wellness, nutrition and mental health. Development of the garden has been underway for several months and the idea was pushed by school supporter Imani Marley-Hus- bands, a master gardener with a grandchild attending Rock Chapel, who said she "harassed" the princi pal about it. Marley-Husbands said she's been gardening since she was 4 and learned to love it from her dad. Her nieces, nephews and grandchildren help with gardening at her home. She said it's import ant to expose children to garden ing and get them excited about it. "How many kids have never seen broccoli outside of a store, never seen a tomato on the vine," she asked. At the event members of the school's safety patrol led the school pledge, participated in the ribbon cutting, and helped plant seeds and starter plants. Fifth-grader and safety patrol member Sairet Rodriguez, 11, described the garden as "pretty cool" and said, "it helps kids learn how to plant food and not just buy everything." She told her schoolmates that she loves broccoli seasoned with lemon. While planting broccoli starter plants, 11-year-old Ayouba Sheriff said working with the soil and plants was "fun." Collards, kale, lettuce, and cabbage are among the vegetables that are being planted and tended to in the garden. Muhammad said they are planning to have students harvest the vegetables and take them home to their families right before Thanksgiving. While only third, fourth, and fifth graders are working in the garden currently, teachers are de termining ways to involve students in lower grades during the next phase. Muhammad said students now are involved in watering, cleanup, and general maintenance. Phase two of Rock Chapel's garden is planned for spring 2026. A herbal garden with such plants as peppermint and lavender, which can be used by staff to make tea, is one of the anticipated additions, according to the principal. Home Depot has been the main corporate sponsor of the project. Other sponsors are the Empowerment Zone and Tipsy Flowerpot. rd 7 #( thS twei Three students work together to plant broccoli.
