This spring, Ms. Melissa Baker’s and Miss Daniella Schmidt’s grade 12 English as a New Language (ENL) students at Amsterdam High School (AHS) participated in New York’s Agricultural Literacy Week in collaboration with Cornell University. The program’s primary objective is to cultivate awareness, understanding, and appreciation of New York State's food, fiber, and natural resource production by involving educators and students in agricultural activities.
The theme for this year’s Agricultural Literacy Week was “Seed to Strawberry,” which focused on celebrating strawberries and New York’s vibrant strawberry production industry. To bring this theme to life, the selected book for this year's event was "I Love Strawberries" by Shannon Anderson.
The AHS ENL student volunteers, including Leiram Aponte, Nicole Batista Delgado, Alexander Estrada Velez, Stephania Gonzalez Tavarez, Sarah Peguero Villafana, Emmanuel Rodriguez Garcia, and Juan Carlos Vargas, played a pivotal role in engaging with the community. They visited second grade classes across the district to read the book and then conducted interactive and educational activities centered around the life cycle of strawberries.
Through these activities, the AHS students not only shared their passion for learning but also fostered a deeper understanding of agriculture among the younger students. By actively participating in Agricultural Literacy Week, they showcased the importance of agriculture in our daily lives and highlighted the agricultural heritage of New York State.
The collaborative effort between AHS, Ms. Baker, Ms. Schmidt, and Cornell University acknowledges the power of community engagement and education. It underscores the significance of empowering students to become advocates for agricultural literacy and environmental stewardship.
A huge round of applause to the AHS ENL student volunteers for their dedication and enthusiasm in promoting agricultural literacy within our community. Their efforts have undoubtedly left a lasting impact on the students they engaged with, inspiring a new generation of agricultural enthusiasts.
As we celebrate the success of Agricultural Literacy Week, let us continue to cultivate a culture of appreciation for agriculture and environmental sustainability, ensuring a brighter future for generations to come.
