SAISD SPOTLIGHT: Gardopia Gardens and Young Women’s Leadership Academy-Primary continue garden-based learning partnership.
The students at Young Women’s Leadership Academy-Primary spend a lot of time learning outdoors. It all started when YWLAP teamed up with Gardopia Gardens to bring hands-on lessons to life for Bluejay students.
Gardopia Gardens has a long legacy of partnering with YWLAP to implement and expand garden-based learning programs, including a $57,000 USDA Farm-To-School Grant in 2022 that provided federal and local funding to YWLA Primary and Gardopia Gardens for an Edible Garden Project. More recently, Gardopia Gardens has received an H-E-B Grant to support their efforts, including building a community chicken coop, and has been a recipient of the Big Green Jumpstart Grant, which supports school garden initiatives.
Now, through the partnership of the United Way, Gardopia Gardens and YWLAP are hosting a “Math in the Gardens” event on Saturday, Oct. 4 (see below) to announce another exciting grant that furthers the mutually beneficial partnership even further.
The Garden-Based Learning Program is an interdisciplinary evidence-based program that aims to educate the youth on growing and sustaining their own food. The program implements Science, Technology, Research, Engineering, Art, and Mathematical academic activities to enrich and empower children with sustainable agricultural practices.
*Call to schedule an appointment to visit Young Women’s Leadership-Primary to visit the outdoor garden and learn more about the program from principal Jennifer Elwood.
Calendar items
Sept. 30 (Tues) – SAISD Foundation Teacher Shopping Spree
3:30 p.m. to 6 p.m., HEB McCreless Market, 4100 New Braunfels Ave., 78223
Target Balcones Heights, 4522 Fredericksburg Road, 78201
The SAISD Foundation is taking teachers from four district campuses on a fabulous shopping spree! Thanks to a generous donation from an anonymous donor, teachers, coaches, librarians and counselors at Herff Elementary, Hirsch Elementary, Crockett Academy and Rhodes Middle School will each receive $150 each to purchase items for their classrooms! This is the second year in a row the angel donation has been made to supplement innovative learning in SAISD classrooms.
Oct. 3 (Fri) – Jefferson vs. Burbank IB Bowl Feeder Night
6:30 p.m., Alamo Stadium, 110 Tuleta Drive, 78212
While the Jefferson Mustangs and Burbank Bulldogs meet on the Alamo Stadium field in a district battle at the annual IB Bowl, the feeder schools for both International Baccalaureate high schools will be featured in pre-game introductions. The impressive roster of SAISD International Baccalaureate schools highlights the students, staff and innovative programs that these choice schools offer to all children residing in Bexar County.
Oct 4 (Sat) – Gardopia Gardens YWLA Primary “Math in the Garden” Announcement and Tour
9 a.m. to 10:30 a.m., Young Women’s Leadership Academy-Primary, 401 Berkshire, 78210
SAISD is partnering with Gardopia Gardens and United Way of San Antonio and Bexar County to launch “Math in the Garden,” a new learning program that brings math to life through gardening for students at the Young Women’s Leadership Academy-Primary.
The “Math in the Garden” program helps students strengthen their math skills through hands-on, real-world applications in a garden and urban farm setting. By measuring plant growth, calculating garden bed areas, analyzing patterns in nature and applying problem-solving strategies, students see how math connects to everyday life. The program also helps students and their families have no-cost access to fresh organic fruits and vegetables, supporting healthier lifestyles while building confidence and academic growth through meaningful learning experiences.
Oct 4 (Sat) – SAISD Fall Marching Band Showcase
6:30 p.m. to 9 p.m., Alamo Stadium, 110 Tuleta Drive, 78212
The SAISD Fine Arts department invites the public to the annual Fall Marching Band Showcase. Enjoy an evening under the stars in historic Alamo Stadium with award-winning band performances. The eight SAISD marching bands will all perform their UIL programs in a special sneak preview, plus additional performances from middle schools and academies.