Big Green Learning Space Comes to AG Gold School
Derris Cameron
Published: June 7, 2018
Scott Joplin Elementary is an AG Gold School located in Auburn Gresham at 7927 S. Honore Street Chicago, IL 60620
Thanks to the nonprofit Big Green students at Scott Joplin Elementary will get an opportunity to have extra hands-on learning experiences. Volunteers, parents, teachers and civic leaders joined Joplin students for a ribbon cutting that marked the opening of their very own learning garden classroom.
Big Green ® Learning Gardens teach children an understanding of food, healthy eating, and garden skills through experiential learning and garden-based education that tie into existing school curriculum, such as math, science, and literacy. Joplin Elementary is a K-8 Auburn Gresham (AG) Gold School lead by Principal Alene Mason that is rated a level one school by the Chicago Public Schools (CPS) School Quality Rating Policy (SQRP) metric. With the addition of the Learning Garden the school will have another resource at its disposal to provide students high quality education experiences.
Scott Joplin Principal Alene Mason (Left) and Cook County State's Attorny Kimberly Foxx (Right)
To celebrate the opening of the new learning space Cook County State’s Attorney Kimberly Fox (picture) joined Principal Mason for the ceremonial ribbon cutting. The partnership with Big Green is a great fit for a national nonprofit looking to improve access to healthy foods and a school community that regularly leverages community partnerships to provide an unique school experience. “This is a great celebration of community… Joplin’s use of the new space will certainly impact students, families and community development” says Tenisha Jones, Chief Architect of the AG Gold School initiative.
The pride at Joplin Elementary is undeniably contagious. Talk to just about any student and you’ll hear the school motto “What We Do Most, Is What We Do Best, Get An Education”. While many parents looking for a quality K-8 school are often surprised to learn that a level one CPS school is right here in the community. Joplin is the best kept Auburn Gresham that makes us all proud. Perhaps with the addition of the garden, more Chicagoans will learn about the great things getting done in Auburn Gresham and Joplin Elementary