The rooster Helios
This year’s Night Fest held Saturday March 5th, was well attended but this year it had some unusual guests. The St. Johns County, Academy Public Middle School 4-H Club brought a number of chickens and a rooster to this year’s event so that students could interact with the public and share their knowledge about this traditional yard bird.
Academy Public Middle School student sharing about chickens with the public
Students shared other interesting and relevant facts including the rise of agriculture in Mesopotamia, the domestication of wild grasses to develop wheat, whole wheat flour versus white flour, and how whole wheat is better for you. Students also helped festival goers grind wheat, explained about yeast and how to mix bread dough and showed them how to hold chickens and how to identify a hen who is a good layer.
Academy students demonstrating how to float an egg to check for freshness
The Academy 4-H Club is based at The Academy Public Middle School in downtown St Augustine. It’s a small, friendly, family- feel school with a student body of some 66 children serving 6th, 7th, and 8th grades and obtained a ‘B’ score last year. The school is currently being revitalized and will have a new principal this summer.
For the 2016-2017 year it will offer new electives, clubs and after-school activities, interdisciplinary core curriculum enhancement, and a renewed emphasis on a culture of kindness and civility.
Parents with children entering Middle School next academic year may attend the school open house on April 5 from 2:00 to 6:30PM. The school is located at 149 San Marcos Ave., St. Augustine, FL. 32084. For more information you can visit DiscoverTheAcademy.org.