Barry Elementary School is a small (K-8th grade) school with just under 600 students located in Sutter County. In September of 2017, Butte Cluster's UC CalFresh Nutrition Education Program partnered with Ms. Donovan, Barry School's Garden Lead and Elementary School Counselor to submit a grant proposal for the Lowes Tool Box for Education Grant. The grant was successfully awarded in January of 2018. This grant will assist Barry Elementary School in relocating their school's learning garden to a new location on the school campus. It will also make it possible for students in Sutter County, many of which are low-income, to touch worms, smell fresh herbs, taste new foods, and see the beauty of growing healthy foods in their own community.
Over the past three school years, Barry Elementary School has partnered with the UC CalFresh Nutrition Education Program and the Center for Nutrition in Schools at UC Davis to incorporate the Shaping Healthy Choices Program (SHCP) into the school environment. The SHCP is a multi-component, school- based intervention that was developed to improve children's health. This program integrates activities within four components, all working together to sustain positive health outcomes: 1) Garden enhanced nutrition education and promotion 2) Family and community partnership 3). Foods available on the school campus, and 4). School wellness policies. For more information on the SHCP, CLICK HERE.
Barry Elementary School has recently established a Garden Committee which consists of several community partners including, UC CalFresh, Lowes, UC Master Gardeners, Yuba-Sutter Young Farmers and Ranchers, and the Sutter-Yuba 4-H Youth Development Program. Together these partners plan to work together to relocate the school's learning garden and Barry Elementary School plans to continue to integrate a multi-component, school-based intervention with the goal of making policy, systems and environmental changes on their school campus.
Barry Elementary School's After School Program, The Hive recently put their gardening skills to the test by pulling together recycled materials to create a pallet garden for the Yuba-Sutter Home and Garden Show. For more information on building a pallet garden, CLICK HERE.
Barry Elementary School is looking forward to having the opportunity to incorporate learning in the school garden and provide students with opportunities to interact with nature on a personal level to promote positive behavior changes and enhance student learning.