LIFE

Arizona grade-schoolers garden with First Lady

Charly Edsitty
12 News

Five fifth- and sixth-grade students from the STAR School in Leupp, Ariz., along with their food-service manager and school director, got the chance of a lifetime to garden alongside

The five STAR students selected to travel to the White House stand inside a greenhouse on their campus.

first lady Michelle Obama last week.

Their school, one of three selected, has created a unique curriculum rooted in Navajo tradition and healthful eating that caught the attention of the White House.

"It was amazing. Kind of freaky getting on the plane for the first time," said fifth-grader Anthony Harvey. "And I loved being at the White House. When I first saw (the first lady), I was so excited."

It was a first trip to the nation's capital for all the students and a first plane ride for a couple. The students helped the first lady harvest the White House garden and, with the help of chefs, prepared a healthful meal using the fresh produce.

And for fifth-grader Sawyer Allison-Begay, the trip was made even sweeter with a notable embrace.

"(The first lady) hugged the two kids before me, so I was like 'OK, if she hugs them, she has to hug me,' " said Allison-Begay. "But the first time I saw her I didn't think she was going to do that. I thought she was just going to handshake or something."

STAR School Co founder and director Dr. Mark Sorensen stands in a greenhouse with vegetables produced by students.

Mrs. Obama has championed her "Let's Move" program, which promotes exercise and healthful eating, a platform STAR School co-founder and director Dr. Mark Sorensen supports.

"As I like to think of it, she is walking her talk," Sorensen said. "And I really appreciate people who do that. That's what we're trying to do here. We want to walk our talk."

The STAR School's 40-acre campus is home to several greenhouse and gardening projects made possible by a grant from the Farm to School program. Students plant, nurture and harvest their crops, but it doesn't stop there. A home- economics class teaches students how to prepare their produce in a way that is healthful and delicious.

In addition, the school is working with North Leupp Family Farms to eventually serve its produce in the school's cafeteria, bringing fresh food to the students and an economic boost to the community.

Founded 13 years ago, the STAR School serves prekindergarten through eighth-grade students and the student body is composed almost entirely of Native American students. The school's core curriculum focuses on four Navajo teachings: respect, relationships, responsibility and reasoning.

STAR school students demonstrate one of several gardening techniques used at their school to grow fresh produce.