What would you do with over $30,000? Priory has answered this question by putting it forward to help combat climate change. Most of you probably are not aware that Priory received an Innovative Technology grant. But most of you have come into contact with it at some point this school year, whether that be directly or indirectly. A select group of students, along with faculty and staff, are examining the effects of this grant which Priory received from the Innovative Technology Education Fund, established by a local St. Louis company.
As Mr. Kates writes, “The goal of Priory’s Innovative Technology grant application is to engage students in using our campus as a classroom. Priory has a history of integrating the ecological features of our 150-acre campus and sustainability education into the curriculum and extracurricular activities. Examples of past campus-based projects include: walking tours and studies of our creek and watersheds; an ecotrail and outdoor classroom; an annual tree-planting program for all 7th graders; solar arrays on multiple buildings; raising chickens in a coop; wildflower gardens for butterflies and bees; a community garden; and dining hall composting. Currently, we are renovating buildings and outdoor landscapes on campus to better fulfill our needs and mission. We are developing a five-year strategic plan, which includes a “classroom extensions” component focused on place-based learning on campus, in the St. Louis region, nationally, and globally. What we have found through surveys and interviews of alumni, students, and staff is that there is a need for more experiences outside of the traditional classroom. The Innovative Technology grant will allow us to further develop and better educate our community about campus ecological features.”
The grant provides Priory with the necessary equipment to use its own campus’ ecosystem and watershed to study the statewide effects of climate change. Our campus is huge, and through the hard work of many faculty and staff, we have joined forces to create a meaningful impact for everyone in the Priory community. Following Mr. Kates’ summary, the main activities that Priory students will be doing are: water quality testing, arboretum tracking, beekeeping, and other fun activities. The Beekeeping club will make a return, and the all-new Fishing Club has been started by Mr. Kates. Yes, you read that right – there are bees currently on campus and the Priory Pond will soon be full of fish once again! These initiatives are currently being integrated into 7th grade “Earth Science,” 9th grade “Biology,” and 12th grade “Environmental Science.”
A composting initiative has also begun, as the Gardening Club has been spending the fall weekends “in the dirt.” The school garden has been completely overhauled and we are composting the weed-free shrubbery into a nutrient-rich soil to reuse in the very garden from which it grew. Just last week, many flowers were planted that will sprout in the spring. The overarching goal of the Gardening Club is to grow fruits and vegetables that our school cooking staff will use in student food preparation.
Through the creation of these new clubs and using the garden for food and composting, we are not just bringing a ‘farm to table’ approach – but rather a ‘farm to classroom,’ and even a ‘farm to desk’ initiative! Giving students the opportunity to get their hands dirty and deal with nature itself allows them to learn in a completely unique way.
The Innovative Technology grant will serve Priory in many unique and wonderful ways. Students will not only have opportunities to learn using methods they have never encountered before, but will also have the chance to participate in activities that many other schools would not be able to offer. I encourage you to join – even if in a small way, as there are many ways to get involved. This has also opened a new avenue for creative senior thesis projects; if you get heavily invested in this project, you can spend your senior year doing something you are passionate about. This is my creative senior thesis project, and I am grateful for the unique opportunities I have experienced so far.
