Mary Margaret’s Garden:
Fayette Academy’s Outdoor Classroom and the Biology Lab
- Mission
- Awards
- Certifications
- Certificates of Excellence
- Affiliations
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Mission | Awards | Certifications | Certificates of
Excellence | Affiliations
 MISSION:
To provide every student the opportunity to foster an attitude of stewardship and discovery of living things through the use of our senses, observations and experimentation.
NATIONAL Award Winning Science Program:
Fayette Academy offers a unique combination of "hands-on" learning in the field of science.
The biology lab offers investigative research utilizing the most current laboratory techniques. Students conduct experiments, gather data, make charts and develop analysis based on their data.
Elementary students in grade 4, 5 and 6 participate in this unique learning environment every Thursday. Students participate in the biology lab and the outdoor classroom. Students conduct field studies on campus and gain an understanding of our world. Environmental teams have been formed addressing solid waste management, conservation of natural resources, and sustainability through the state’s TP3 program known as Reduce, Reuse and recycle. Mary Margaret’s Garden produces a monthly newsletter that outlines our student’s adventures.
High school students in physical science and general biology come to the learning center every other week. Advanced placement biology students come to the lab every other week and conduct the specific labs recognized by the advanced placement curriculum. Special techniques taught include; DNA Electrophoresis, Transformation of the E coli Bacteria, Photosynthesis, Spectrophotometer, and others.
The goals of the outdoor learning center are to provide students an opportunity to develop a strong people-plant-animal connection. Mike Metallo, NGA President further explains what a research based plant-animal-people provides in the overall learning process. "In an era of instant gratification and fast-moving technological innovation, there’s a lot to be said for getting back to our roots, digging in the dirt, sowing a bit of seed, and watching life spring from the ground."
Here at Fayette Academy we take that a step further and include field studies of the animals that share our environment. We believe that the lessons learned from nurturing life, nature, and gardening teaches us about the interconnectivity of all living things. This type of "hands-on" learning has been thoroughly researched and provides the most effective teaching method. It engenders an enduring commitment for our students to make this world a better place today, tomorrow and well into the future.
This unique learning center was designed and constructed by our 4th, 5th , 6th and 9th grade students. It continues to be maintained today with the help of many of our students and the newly formed Ecology/Garden Club. Look around the county, you will find our students working hard to educate our community, provide community service for the needy and getting outside and celebrating wildlife.
Outdoor garden memorial reads: This garden is dedicated with love to Mary Margaret Pilcher who’s life reminds us of the beauty of butterflies, flowers and rainbows.
National and Regional Awards:
- 2007 TN State Department of Environment and Conservation Partner Level Success Story
- 2007 Fayette County Education Foundation Grant
- 2006 National Gardening Association Youth Garden Grant
- 2006 Fayette County Farm Bureau Women Book Grant
- 2006 Fayette County Education Foundation Grant
- 2006 Governor’s Environmental Stewardship Green School Award (Statewide Runner-up)
- 2006 Mail-order Gardening Association’s Kids Growing with Dutch Bulb Grant
- 2004 Tennessee Farm Bureau Grant
- Tennessee Foundation for Ag in the Classroom Grant
- 2004 Chickasaw Shiloh Resource Conservation and Development Council Grant
Certifications:
- The Monarch Society
- Plant a Row for the Hungry Program with the Garden Writer’s Association
- National Points of Light Foundation’s Presidential Service Award
- National Wildlife Federation
- North American Pollinator Protection Campaign
- National Fish and Wildlife Association
- National Gardening Association
Certificates of Excellence:
- Rodale Institute for Organic Gardening
- Tennessee Pollution Prevention Plan through the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation (TP3)
- Sea World/Bush Gardens/Fuji Film Environmental Awards
- National Gardening Association
Affiliations:
- American Horticulture Society
- TN Department of Environment and Conservation
- National and Global Youth Service Day
- National Earth Day
- Backyard Wildlife Habitat
- Tennessee Solid Waste Environmental Program
- Fayette County Soil Conservation
- National Science Teacher’s Association
- Tennessee Environmental Education Association
- Youth Service America
- Fayette Care
- Environmental Smart
- Junior Master Gardener
- Wild Birds Unlimited
- USA Freedom Corps
- Somerville Art and Garden Club
- Lowe’s
- Home Depot
- Somerville Electric
- Lanmark Plumbing
- Somerville Farm Supply
- Fayette Co-op
- Morris Lumber
- Stenglar Concerte Stamping
- Oakland Concrete
- John Deere Landscape
- Dan West Garden Center
- Fowler Paving
- Wilson Lime
- Dello’s Nursery
- Ames Tool Company
- Northfork Sod Farm
- Lee’s Greenhouse
- Nature’s Earth
- Middlecoff Dental Group
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