While Langley students throughout the school were churning concepts and making discoveries Friday morning, second-graders  in the science lab were churning butter and making waffles.

Foodprints teacher, Sarah Gaudreau, walked down the hall to fetch the children from their homeroom. When the kids realized it was their day to participate in the special gardening and cooking program, a  cheer rose up from the group. Because, yes, second breakfast! Nothing wrong with that. But also, hands-on learning, making messes, working together and accomplishing a big goal - delicious food for everyone. 

The kids were divided into several groups and each given a different task: some ground wheatberries into a fine flour, others shook jars of heavy cream to make butter. A group of children  used kid-safe knives to cut up apples for a sweet compote, as another composed a few sentences describing what they know about butter; what does it look like, where does it come from, what is it used for? "It looks like a rectangle!" one shouted out, "We get it at Wal-Mart," said another. "Write it down," replied educational aide Ronnie Johnson. 

The flurry of excitement throughout the room was also packed with learning opportunities. Math was done as ingredients were measured out. Chemistry was observed as those ingredients were combined and heated. Kids debated the efficiency of a low-tech antique mixer verses an electric one.

A group of determined Langley parents, staff and community volunteers spent a muddy Saturday clearing out the garden in front of the school. Friendship and kid-baked pumpkin bread made an ambitious project manageable, and after a few hours we saw great progress. Only the safety enclosure for our hibernating rescue turtle was left standing.

Why?

As little kids grow and develop, so do schools. We’ve welcomed more students, growing to three PK-3 classrooms and a larger total enrollment. Conscious Discipline is in its second year, and our partnership with FRESHFARM’s Foodprints is teaching gardening, cooking and nutrition to more and more kids. The rooftop beehives, the butterfly garden, the little turtle and flourishing plants - all these things bring our children learning and joy. And with your support, the PTSA has grown from a dogged startup to a small but fierce Tiger parent organization. All of this has been made possible with the support of our community—volunteers, neighborhood businesses, generous donors, and everyone who wishes us well.

We couldn’t be prouder of Langley’s growth! But we have a challenge this year. The garden needs a full overhaul to accommodate our growing school and our ambitious plans. We’re hoping to install permanent seating for an outdoor classroom so classes can easily gather and learn in the space. It’s important to have accessible garden beds and pavers between them so that we can welcome all of our children, parents and grandparents, even those with limited mobility or wheelchairs. The garden will need an irrigation system so it can be managed efficiently and we’d love to have a space where we can host chickens too.

A garden should be built to last, and all of these things have a cost. We have set a fundraising goal of $20,000--- several times more than the PTA has raised in any previous year. Grant applications are underway, and we’ll have a Parents Night Out at Spark on January 11th as a general fundraiser. Please come! But we’re also asking you to consider us in your year-end giving. The PTSA is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, and would be thrilled to receive your donations. We use PayPal at LangleyPTApayments@gmail.com, receive mail at 101 T St. NE, and can make other arrangements for your convenience.

A thriving neighborhood school is possible only with your support. Thank you so much for believing in us and sharing our dream for an inclusive and effective learning garden!