GRADUATING CLASS OF 2015 Faith Knowledge Values Preschool through Grade 8 SAINT THERESA CATHOLIC SCHOOL Congratulations! A 2010 National Blue Ribbon School, Saint Theresa offers a rigorous, faith-based program that prepares students spiritually, academically, and socially for acceptance into the high school of their choice. The Saint Theresa Catholic Parish and School community extends its warmest congratulations and best wishes to our 2015 graduating class! Graduation is the celebration that reflects your hard work and commitment to the fulfillment of our mission. It rewards your dedication and growth with opportunities in high school, college and beyond that you might create a legacy of integrity while living out the values of the Gospel. Page 23 June 2015 By Josh Cutlip Local mother, Barbara Halden, is trying to build an interactive garden at Arcadia High School after her two gardens at Ingleside Middle School and Hopi Elementary School have shown great success with the student population. Barbara and her family moved to Arizona about seven years ago, and she got the idea to start a garden at Hopi after seeing the school lunches. “When my kids were ready to start school here I looked at the lunch, and I didn’t like the lunch. I talked to the cafeteria people and said, ‘How can we change the lunch?’” Barbara said. She figured the best way to address the unhealthy menu was to demonstrate how fresh produce affects a community. “We have vegetables; we have herbs; we have flowers that are really important,” Barbara said. Even though Barbara can’t serve her produce in the cafeteria, the nutrition department encouraged her to show them her vegetables and educate them on what to order to help make school lunches healthier. After successfully incorporating gardens at both schools into the students’ everyday activities, Barbara now wants to build one at Arcadia High School. The garden would be used in conjunction with science classes to learn about genetics and nutrition. She said many of the student athletes have shown interest in gaining knowledge about nutrition and healthy living, “All the athletes are really interested in, ‘What do I need to do to be fit and competitive?’” said Barbara. The garden at Arcadia will be different from those at Hopi and Ingleside. It will be made out of block instead of materials that deteriorate easily, thus ensuring longevity. Halden also said the garden will match the architecture of the school in a complementary way, making it look like an original piece of the campus. The one thing hindering this project is funding. “I do need money for this,” said Halden. “We need to raise about $33,000 to actually build it.” Scottsdale Unified School District Superintendent Dr. David Peterson is helping to fund the first phase of the garden, which would include a potting bench, irrigation and two large plant beds for crop testing within the science department. Barbara hopes Eagle Scouts and other volunteers will help with tasks like filling the beds with soil and landscaping, which will be adaptable to the desert in order to save on water. “To really get it all going, I need the community to step up and help us fund this garden,” Barbara said. “They can write a check to Arcadia High School with ‘Garden Club’ in the memo.” Some local businesses like On Site Landscaping are making generous donations in order to help create this garden, but the long list of Gardening Club members is still looking for the full funding. “We are trying to get the cost down a little bit by talking to the suppliers,” Barbara said. The gardens at Hopi and Ingleside have proven beneficial to the children in more ways than one. The students at Ingleside have learned a little about economics by selling their produce to the Arcadia Farmers Market, and Barbara said the garden teaches children about nutrition and economics – it even provides a new environment for the language arts class. Barbara hopes to get the Arcadia High School fine arts programs, along with the rest of the school, involved in the garden’s development. She’d like them to help by making stepping stones or planter pots. She believes that the project will quickly become self-sustaining with all the active clubs and charitable people at the school. Legacy continues as Halden sets sights on new school garden Barbara Halden is the driving force behind gardens in three local schools. PHOTO BY AMANDA GOOSSEN