CHARLEMONT, MA — Hawlemont is holding its second annual celebration of the new farm-based curriculum on Friday from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. at the school.
Student exhibits, student-guided tours, cow-patty bingo and a plant and craft sale are all part of the festivities. Dinner will also be served.
The students have been working hard to create garden crafts that will be for sale, along with the wide array of plants they have been growing in the greenhouse.
The PTO is selling $20 plots to the bingo area, on a first-come, first-pick basis. There are two prizes; $350 and $150.
The elementary school started a new agriculture-based curriculum about two years ago, known as HAY — Hawlemont, Agriculture and You — generating a lot of interest among students and helped to build a stronger connection between this farming community and its elementary school.
Local farmers have lent the HAY program baby animals to raise. There is now a barn, chicken coop, greenhouse and plenty of gardens on the school grounds. Also, children learn about growing and preparing food, as part of their weekly HAY lessons.
The school recently had its first “HAY Conference,” a series of agricultural workshops open to the community.
