3/25/21 NOTE:  We recently added a Holland Lop Rabbit to our school family.  This new friend will take up residence in our garden classroom later this spring. 

If you’ve visited our campus recently you may know that we’ve added gardens by the preschool, a garden classroom behind the STEM modular, and a chicken yard that is home to the much loved Nugget, Kentucky, and Waffles. These timely and popular additions to our campus provide fun and Covid-friendly outdoor activities, but there are deeper reasons for making chickens and gardens a part of the Myrtle Grove Christian School experience. These outdoor features are used to…

Develop Stewardship
One of our core values is stewardship. We seek to manage our resources in a way that demonstrates our understanding that we are caretakers on behalf of God. Giving children an opportunity to tend a garden and care for a dependent animal provides powerful hands-on lessons in stewardship.

Develop Godly Character
Our vision is that all students exemplify biblical principles, godly character, and academic skills to be life-long learners and productive citizens as they serve Christ. Our gardens and chickens help students…

• make connections to deeper spiritual concepts about creation and their role in God’s world.  Caring and tending gardens and chickens can facilitate a practice of honoring, respecting and serving their brothers and sisters.  
• develop and practice patience and self-control.  Sitting quietly and waiting for a chicken to approach, determining the difference between a weed and a seedling, maintaining a slowly decomposing compost pile gives students a unique opportunity to develop these fruits of the Spirit.
  

Reflect and reinforce our philosophy of teaching and our instructional practices
By incorporating chickens and gardens, we demonstrate that learning is about more than memorizing facts and passing tests. Real learning connects students to the real world in a real way so they can make a difference in the sphere of influence they have been given. Even our youngest learners can pick a pepper or scatter feed. These intentional learning opportunities offer students experiences that connect to more complex and abstract concepts. The experiences and opportunities that our gardens and chickens provide help develop students’ biblical worldview, how they see themselves, see each other, and see their Savior.