January 2017

SCHOOL
by David Volz
Agriscience
at Coral Springs High School
Student Leah Khalife and
teacher Amanda Mortimer
in the farming program at
Coral Springs High School.
Leah Khalife is one of
a growing number
of Coral Springs
High School students
who are studying
agriculture and animal
science in a new
program known as
Agriscience.
“I love taking
care of the
environment. For
me, it is fun to
actually take care
of flowers. I want
to have a garden in
my backyard and I like
learning about plants and
crops,” Khalife said.
Amanda Mortimer teaches
Agriscience and Animal Science
at Coral Springs High School.
She is building the new program in hopes that it will appeal to
many students. “I have students who have faced difficulties in
school and they love to work with plants. They are doing well
in this program,” Mortimer said. “We are planting a garden and
growing various plants and the students are learning about
agriculture.”
Mortimer said eventually the agriculture students will work with
the culinary arts students to create a farm to table program.
They will learn how the plants they grow turn into food on their
dinner tables. Now, students are learning to grow sunflowers,
tomatoes, cauliflower, basil, carrots, green peppers, squash,
and other
items. In
the spring,
the animal
science
program will
get chickens
that will
produce
eggs.
Eventually
Carley Neer, a
student in the Coral
Springs agricultural
program.
the teachers
will buy the
eggs. Also,
the students
will become
more involved with Future Farmers of America and take part in
competitions and career development events. “The students
will learn about agricultural issues and career development. The
students love the hands on nature of this program,” Mortimer
said. “There is a leadership component associated with the
agricultural program as well.”
While there is some book and classroom work, the students get
to work in the garden. They work on planting and maintaining
the garden and learn about the plants. Sometime this involves
failure. Some crops don’t thrive as well as others. For example,
the students planted watermelons and they did not thrive.
First year participant Jaden Lewis has benefitted greatly from
the program. “I have learned a lot about plants and how they
survive. I have also learned how important agriculture is.”
Other students have similar reasons for being part of the
Agriscience program. “I like watching the plants develop and
flower. I think a lot of people would be interested in this,” Norris
Brown said.
Carley Neer said that he likes a class where you can go outside
and learn. “I have an interest in nature and I want to learn more
about plants.”
Students in the Agriscience program
Mortimer has big plans for the program. She hopes to take
the students on a field trip to a farm in Delray Beach and is
also pursuing grants to develop the program even more. “This
program offers something different. They get to actually go
outside and plant something. They are also learning making
informed choices on the food they buy,” Mortimer said.
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JANUARY 2017