Growing Great Schools Inc

Growing Great Schools seeks to ensure that all students in Connecticut have access to local, healthy food, and food education, as well as understanding the connections between food and environmental sustainability as a part of their everyday lives.

In The Classroom

Growing Great Schools reaches students in the classroom by empowering teachers and staff to change the attitudes toward food in our schools. GGS gives schools access to innovative curriculum developed by experts in the field to blend with the common core standards. Teachers are role models and we believe they can be effective motivators for chang. By bringing gardens to every school, students can apply real-life math and science opportunities every day. GGS provides students and teachers with the opportunity to expand their learning with the expansive Junior Master Gardener curriculum made possible through a partnership with UCONN. GGS also fosters an understanding of how students can care for the planet by supporting student-run Green Teams. GGS is working in partnership with CT Green Leaf Schools to make our schools more environmentally friendly.

Farmers Markets are an amazing way to connect kids to their local food source while teaching them about marketing, economies of scale, pricing and sales! Here in West Hartford, we coordinate biannual Farmers Markets in the Fall and the Spring, in all of our eleven elementary schools. The students begin planning several weeks in advance. Kids of all ages and abilities are able to help plan and execute the market. As part of our farmers markets, we also provide free bags of local produce to several families at each of our elementary schools.

In The Lunchroom

Through the Chefs Move to Schools program, GGS works to bring fresh, healthy items to the school lunch menus through tastings, cooking demonstrations, and access to salad bars. GGS is committed to providing community-based educational opportunities in healthy living and healthy eating through cooking programs for students and their families.

The Chefs Move to Schools program is part of First Lady Michelle Obama’s “Let’s Move!” Campaign. Chefs Move to Schools pairs chefs with local schools in order to educate children and show them that nutrition can be fun. Our chefs in West Hartford have been instrumental in revising our current menu selections, working with West Hartford Nutrition Services to develop improved versions of current selections, and acting as innovators in new menu offerings.

Our partner chefs include Hunter Morton of Max's Oyster Bar; Christopher Torla of Trumbull Kitchen; Billy Grant of Grant's Restaurant, Bricco and Bricco Trattoria; Dorjan Puka of Treva, Avert Brasserie and Artisanal Burger Company; and David Borselle, Jr. of Avert Brasserie.

On The Playground

Health and fitness are key components to creating healthier communities. GGS supports developing before and after school fitness programs and active recess opportunities. GGS works closely with other community organizations, such as 2-4-1 Sports and West Hartford Relay to actively raise funds for fitness programing. 

GGS supports all of these programs in our community and we need your help to continue to fund these programs for our children. Please consider one of our donation levels, so that we can continue to affect positive change in our community.

GGS is run entirely by parent and student volunteers who want to improve their community. We have many opportunites for volunteerism in our committees, including fitness, marketing, fundraising, and special events. If you would like to get involved, please visit our website at www.growinggreatschools.org or email us at info@growinggreatschools.org.