From Soil to Soul

To prepare for the annual agricultural fair, students from Good Hope Country Day School engaged in various activities designed to foster collaboration and connection with the island. 

The seventh-grade students began planting Aloe vera just outside of their classrooms, expanding the existing garden. With the guidance from Mrs. Coles and the eighth-grade helpers, children from the Early Learning Center made stepping stones with concrete and pebbles. These stepping stones would become decor to surround a fountain. Meanwhile in Lower School, Ms. Deevy’s first-graders built mini human sculptures using LEGOs and then decorated them with colorful clay layers, giving each figure a unique personality. In Middle School, sixth-graders with the instruction of Nico Cherubin from Norma’s, explored traditional VI cuisine. Pre-made callaloo that contained okra, spinach, dasheen leaves, and garlic was passed around the table because students wanted to smell it. They made a broth with onions, garlic, and tomatoes along with fungi - pepper, butter, cornmeal, and okra - which was an essential part to the meal. This hands-on learning allowed students to familiarize themselves with how to cook okra. 

At Good Hope Country Day School, students are encouraged to develop a first-hand awareness and appreciation of Virgin Islands agriculture, community, and culture.