Beacon & Healthy Foods for Healthy Kids Cultivates STEM Learning & Community Connections
Cape Henlopen School District News - October 27, 2025
A new partnership between Beacon Middle School and Healthy Foods for Healthy Kids (HFHK) is giving students a fresh way to explore science, nutrition, and community impact. What began as an idea a year ago has grown into a thriving garden that blends classroom learning with real-world experiences.
The project was coordinated through a grant provided by Healthy Foods for Healthy Kids, with support from HFHK representatives Jen Cippola and Nathan Stewart. The HFHK team worked closely with Beacon Middle School staff, community volunteers, PTO parents, and members of Beacon’s National Junior Honor Society. Together, the group planned and built the raised beds now located behind Beacon Middle School, which were installed Saturday, October 18.
Under the guidance of seventh-grade science teachers Jacquie Kisiel and Elizabeth Hahn, seventh-grade students will take the lead in preparing, planting, and maintaining the gardens each season. Students are expected to harvest about 115 pounds of vegetables in both spring and fall, which cafeteria staff will prepare and serve during school lunches. This experience allows students to see the complete process from seed to table.
“I love the idea of becoming a self-sustainable school building, and this is just one of the many steps that move us in that direction,” said Mrs. Hahn. “Not only are we literally feeding our students, but we’re also feeding their minds with life skills that will carry into lifelong success. I am looking forward to the connections that will be built and watching student reactions through the whole process. We are beyond grateful that Healthy Foods for Healthy Kids chose to work with us.”
Mrs. Kisiel added, “This garden truly functions as an outdoor classroom where our students’ become scientists in action. They investigate soil chemistry, monitor water quality, and study how seasonal conditions affect plant growth. These hands-on opportunities help students see themselves as problem solvers and future STEM professionals.”
The project aligns with Cape’s focus on career exploration and community partnerships, helping students connect classroom science to real-world applications. Through the garden, students are learning about environmental science, soil and water chemistry, and seasonal food production, all of which link directly to STEM career pathways.
For many participants, this experience builds on earlier exposure to HFHK gardens at their previous elementary schools, creating a natural bridge between elementary and middle school learning. The Beacon Garden will continue that momentum, showing that science is best understood through active participation and collaboration.
Healthy Foods for Healthy Kids supports more than 60 Delaware schools by providing materials, curriculum guidance, and information on how to integrate gardening into science instruction. Through this partnership, Beacon and HFHK are helping students grow their curiosity, confidence, and sense of community, one harvest at a time.
