Children at the Samuel Watson Elementary School had a chance to get down and dirty planting vegetables in a newly-constructed garden in the school's front yard on Eastern Avenue. Teacher Jasmine Olean, along with Ms. Carrie Guy, brought the children in her fourth grade class outside on May 15, 2009 to try their hand at planting a variety of vegetables in each of the two raised beds constructed by volunteers Jerry Bernier and Department of Public Works employee Abel Oliver. LaCava & Sowersby Auto Parts donated the seeds. The lumber was paid for by funds from Tufts University’s “Children In Balance” (CIB) program that is replicating the Shape Up Somerville childhood obesity prevention project in Fall River schools. The program is helping to teach children about nutrition and the value of physical activity, both priorities in the Fall River School's Wellness Plan.  Click here to read the Herald News article about the project. Click here to see photos of Watson School nurse, Cindy Lima, R.N. and principal Nancy Martin-Bernier discussing the possibility of developing a school garden. For more information, contact Project Manager Marcia Picard at 508-324-2228.

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(Top row, left) Project Coordinator Marcia Picard talks with principal Nancy Martin-Bernier as the children prepare to plant. (Top row, center) Fourth-grader Justin Mosher prepares to put in his plants. (Top row, right) Ashleigh McManus and Brittany Perry talk over their planting plans with Watson School nurse, Cindy Lima, R.N.. (Middle row, left) Ikwan Talaveira and Brandon Jeronimo get their plants into one of the squares. (Middle row, right) Fourth-grade teacher Jasmine Olean shows the children how a bulb begins to sprout. (Bottom row, left) Oriana Hunter and Ikwan Talaveira reach for some peat moss in a bag held by Tatiana Couto. (Bottom row, center and right) Aaron Roche walks between Jonathan Thim and cousin Brett Resendes and then joins a group of boys busily planting along the edge of the bed.