Silver Birches Public School, North Bay, ON
Grant term, 2024-2025
Silver Birches Public School: now offering Fresh Fridays.
Silver Birches Public School is an elementary school located in the picturesque town of North Bay, Ontario, along the shores of Lake Nipissing and Trout Lake. Located on the territorial lands of the Anishinaabe People, the Traditional Territory of the Nipissing First Nation, and Land that is covered by the Robinson Huron Treaty of 1850. This English elementary school has approximately 220 students enrolled from grades JK – 6.
Using the $3000 F2CC grant we received, we were able to purchase a refrigerated salad cart and serving utensils, which allows our “Fresh Friday” salad bar to be mobile and visit classrooms. This is a very valuable tool for our school’s nutritional program. The students are so excited when it is their day to participate. The students love offering new ideas for things that can be added to the cart choices. One student said, “I think avocado would be great with this.” Another stated, “I’ve never made my own salad, I love it”. The atmosphere holds excitement as the students are trying new items, opening the door to conversations about what healthy looks like and tastes like. For many of our students, we are bridging the gap in making healthy food choices and hopefully bringing that excitement home. Looking ahead, our Fresh Fridays will offer make-your-own yogurt parfait and sub stations.
We were also able to purchase metal spoons to bring our environmental footprint down. Each class has a set to use instead of using a bamboo or plastic option. This purchase adds a huge environmental responsibility piece for our students. It helps them to understand how accountable we need to be for our planet. “Having healthy earth conversations with our students is important!” as stated by a teacher.
Our outdoor gardening beds also saw some upgrades through the purchasing of soil, seeds, and garden tools to make it more functional for food growth, student learning and participation. Kids love getting into the garden area, they pull weeds, plant seeds, water the gardens, all part of our Nature School program.
Our JK-SK class took on a special project in October. They carved a pumpkin, watched it decompose in a clear bin, and then in the spring, saw it come to life when a seed germinated. Pumpkin Jack, as he is lovingly known to the students, was transplanted into our school garden bed, where the new soil gave him a perfect growing spot. We are anxiously awaiting pumpkins in the fall.
Getting the students excited for growing food begins early at Silver Birches School. Our Garden Club members tend to the produce we are currently growing. Garlic was planted in the fall. And we have recently added carrots and potatoes. Students transplanted some radishes and peas. Our strawberries have returned, and with the funds we received, more plants can be added.
The harvest will be used to complement our Nutrition program. The garlic will be used in dressings for the salad cart, pickles (made at school), and the strawberries will be added to muffins or made into jam. These preparations are done by our Learning Assistance Program; the students chop, grate, mix and blend using their switches and a power link bar with the guidance of their teacher.
Silver Birches feels incredibly blessed to have been chosen as a recipient of this grant. It has broadened our Nutritional Program, given us the opportunity to be more environmentally responsible, it has encouraged hands-on learning, opened the doors for new project ideas, and brought joy to our school community.
