From a panel discussion, "Growing Curriculum: Creating School Gardens," held as part of the 2014 THV institute, "Farms & Food: Teaching the Hudson Valley from the Ground Up." More information at www.TeachingtheHudsonValley. Karla Purcell is a fourth grade teacher. During her tenure at JFK she also has taught grades one and two and a hands-on science lab program for grades 1-5. Teaching the science lab got Karla involved in the garden with a small lunchtime club. Over the past several years the JFK garden space has evolved into a complex of four raised beds and a greenhouse that is the foundation for an after school program encompassing gardening, nutrition, science, food citizenship, literacy, and technology. In addition, students donate hundreds of pounds of produce to local not-for-profits. describes creation and maintenance of a school garden.

1. John F. Kennedy Magnet
School Garden

2. How did our story begin?
In 2010 a teacher at JFK wrote a grant to have a
raised bed built in an unused courtyard in the
center of our building.
Over the next three years, additional grants were
written for three more beds.
In 2012, JFK received a generous donation from
IBM to be put towards building a greenhouse.
After a year of fundraising and getting through
some red tape, we finally had greenhouse!

3. Our Garden Program Then…
Prior to 2012, our garden
was used and maintained
by a fifth grade garden
club group that met at
lunchtime with the help
of a master gardener
from the Cornell
Cooperative Extension.

4. …And Now
We now have an after
school program for
grades three and four
that incorporates
gardening, nutrition,
literacy, and technology.
All of our produce is
donated to the Carver
Center Food Pantry in
Port Chester.

5. Our Partners and Sponsors
IBM
The Verizon Foundation
The Hudson River
Presbytery
Tamarack Tower
Foundation
Jacob Burns Film Center
Stone Barns Center for
Food and Agriculture
Whole Foods
Rye YMCA
Neri Bakery
Joe Cassino, Landscaper
County Legislator Bill
Ryan
Port Chester Carver
Center
Rye Country Day School

6. Contact Information
jfk.portchesterschools.org
Lou Cuglietto, Principal
lcuglietto@portchesterschools.org
Karla Purcell
kpurcell@portchesterschools.org