OUR HAPPY PLACE, SJES GULAYAN SA PAARALAN

There is a “Happy Place” for each of us. It is the place we can go, no matter what is happening in our lives, and we find peace there. It's a reliable safe haven for happiness, the place that allows us to breathe a deep sigh of relief when we arrive and much like comfort food, it warms us from the inside out. For me, as their teacher in EPP, as well as the parents of Special Science Class of Grade IV, the Gulayan sa Paaralan is our Happy Place. It started when their children were involved in my activity in EPP which is gardening. Pupils learned how to make plots, plant seedlings, take care of them and harvested what they have planted.

After this activity I encouraged parents to plant more vegetables in the garden and they were all excited. The parents already planted different seeds like ampalaya, okra, tomatoes, pechay, string beans, patola, kangkong, and eggplant. Every morning, they gather themselves in the garden to clean and plant more seedlings. The process of successfully planting a seed, watching it grow, then harvesting and consuming it is a satisfying and rewarding feeling. This is indeed a twist from their daily routine not only for the parents but most especially for the learners of San Juan Elementary School. As Nicolette Sowder says, “Gardens and children need the same things- patience, love, and someone who will never give up on them.”