The Edible Schoolyard

RELATIONSHIP

Martin Luther King Middle Jr. Middle School is a public school for sixth, seventh, and eighth grade students in Berkeley, California. The Edible Schoolyard is a nonprofit organization located on the campus of and integrated into Martin Luther King Jr. Middle School. Our staff, including four full time teachers, two administrators, and two Americorps members, is employed by The Edible Schoolyard but participates in the daily life of the school.

STUDENTS

King's student population averages 850-900 students each year. Of those, 40% qualify for the federal Free or Reduced Lunch Program. Students are 36% African American, 34% Caucasian, 20% Latino, and 9% Asian American. Twenty-two languages are spoken here.

TEACHERS

The teaching staff at King is committed to a quality education for all students. They contribute in many ways to make all children successful and to create a rich learning community. Teacher turnover is low, attesting to the dedication and enthusiasm for working with the administration and diverse student body. 33 of the 40 teachers at King work directly with their students in the kitchen and garden, and participate in meetings, staff development, and trainings that foster the integration into the classroom and the core curriculum.

The school operates on block scheduling, forty-five minutes with all six classes on Monday, then 90-minute blocks every other day. This allows for more hands-on activities to be taught, as well as the integration of math and science, history and English. Classes are heterogeneous with the exception of mathematics in 7th and 8th grade. This offers a challenge to meet the diverse needs of students in the classroom, but one that provides rewards on many levels.

Teachers sponsor many extracurricular clubs and student body organizations. They organize after school homework study halls. Sports teams are also offered and are often coached by teachers. The school has a newspaper published quarterly named 'The Cobra' coordinated by a teacher.

Clubs include: the Gay/Straight Alliance, La Raza, Junior Asian Student Union, African American Student Association, Girls Group, and others. In the Spring teachers' offer approximately 15 GATE courses, which are open to all students, where they teach classes on electricity, political activism, chickens and art in the garden, seasonal cooking, First Aid, architecture, opera, sewing, and many more. These courses allow teachers to 'teach their passion', and students to work with teachers, outside their class schedule, with a common interest. GATE classes are held for 16 weeks after school for one hour.
Martin Luther King Middle School was recognized as a Distinguished School in 2000. This is a tribute to the hard working teachers, administration, support staff, custodians, and the community-based programs at the site.

KIT PAPPENHEIMER, PRINCIPAL

Kit Pappenheimer came to King Middle School in fall 2002 with eighteen years of experience in public education. Her background includes classroom and outdoor/environmental education, conflict resolution, and administration. During her time as an administrator, Kit has worked in schools to establish several school community gardens. The magnetic pull of The Edible Schoolyard was one of the strong draws of King Middle School.

"Cultivating the earth, watching chickens lay eggs, gathering their harvest, and cooking their own food; these lessons literally bring school alive for our students. I believe connecting the food they eat with the planet they live on is essential to a child's understanding of the world today. The Edible Schoolyard is a hands-on, creative, and equitable opportunity for all our students to grow!"

For more information about King Middle School, please visit the school's web site at
www.berkeley.k12.ca.us/OS/schools/middle/king.html

The King Middle School Library web site may be found at
www.berkeley.k12.ca.us/hosted/libraries/king/

The King Middle School PTA web site may be found at
www.king.berkeleypta.org

back to top