At The School in Rose Valley, lunch is more than just a meal. It is an essential part of our curriculum and our community. Each day, students gather in their classrooms to share a freshly prepared, family-style meal made right on campus. These daily lunches extend classroom learning as students practice cooperation, conversation, and gratitude while enjoying wholesome food together.
Our Farm-to-Fork Food and Education Program connects children to the full food cycle, from seed to table to compost bin. Using ingredients from our own garden and from local farms, the program helps students see, taste, and understand the relationships between nature, nourishment, and community. Through this experience, they learn that thoughtful food choices benefit their bodies, the planet, and the people who grow their food.
Each day, our Farm-to-Fork team prepares meals from scratch using seasonal, local, and sustainably sourced ingredients. The menu highlights plant-based proteins and organic, grass-fed dairy, with local, ethically raised chicken and turkey served two or three times per week. A vegetarian option is always available, and our kitchen accommodates a variety of dietary needs.
Meals are served family-style in classrooms, where children pass dishes, serve one another, and engage in conversation. This simple act of sharing food builds connection, encourages curiosity, and teaches practical skills such as patience, cooperation, and respect. It is an intentional pause in the day when children slow down, eat together, and strengthen their sense of belonging to a community.
SRV’s small farm is home to a lively flock of hens and three friendly sheep who play an important role in our learning community. The hens provide all the eggs served in our school lunches, giving students a direct connection between the care they provide and the food they eat. The sheep, while not part of our food system, offer wool for classroom projects and daily opportunities for children to experience empathy, gentleness, and respect for animals.
Students visit the farm to help with feeding, observe animal behavior, and learn how each animal contributes to a balanced and sustainable ecosystem. Through these interactions, they see firsthand what it means to be responsible stewards of living things and to care for the land that sustains us.
From seed to compost, SRV students engage with every stage of the food cycle. They help care for the school garden by planting, watering, and observing how things grow. Through these experiences, they learn about the systems that sustain our food, the role of compost in keeping soil healthy, and the importance of caring for the environment.
Food becomes a natural lens for learning. Students explore plant biology and soil science, measure and record growth data, and study the geography and cultures that shape what we eat. They make connections between food systems, environmental stewardship, and community care. Whether observing pollinators in the garden or tracing how nutrients cycle through compost and soil, students see how concepts come to life through meaningful, real-world experiences.
Sharing meals, exploring new flavors, and caring for the earth all contribute to SRV’s goal of cultivating lifelong healthy habits. Our program encourages a “try it, you might like it” mindset that builds curiosity, confidence, and openness.
By eating family-style, students learn about nutrition, empathy, inclusion, and gratitude. They come to understand that every meal represents effort, collaboration, and care. Composting uneaten food completes the cycle and teaches that sustainability is a daily practice and a shared responsibility. Through these experiences, students come to value food as more than fuel. It becomes a source of connection, stewardship, and joy.
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