A Growing Tradition
Written by Mr. McCue
Mr. O’Reilly’s Grade Three class has been hard at work cultivating their very own garden, inspired by the heartwarming book The Garden of Happiness. Now in its second year, the garden initiative has grown into a beloved CTBC tradition, and our young gardeners are determined to make it even bigger and better.
Under Mr. O’Reilly’s guidance, students take the lead in every aspect of the project. They create compost using saved food waste, design walled planting sections from recycled materials found around campus, and thoughtfully choose what to grow. This season, they planted beans and carrots, excited to see their efforts eventually produce real, edible results.
The gardening project continues to inspire collaboration across grade levels. Fifth graders, fondly remembering their time helping last year, often stop by to help dig for worms. Each day, the Grade Three students tend their garden with enthusiasm; watering, weeding, and observing the changes their care brings.
This hands-on learning opportunity is one of the many ways our expansive natural campus allows students to explore, experiment, and grow. Beyond learning about plants, students overcome hesitations about getting dirty or interacting with worms, discovering that curiosity is a powerful motivator. Some students have even started discussing how they might design their own irrigation system—an exciting early connection to engineering concepts.
The garden continues to flourish, and so do our students, as they learn responsibility, creativity, and the joy of nurturing something from seed to harvest.
