International Baccalaureate and Academic and Career Exploration students collaborate in MVHS greenhouse and garden

The International Baccalaureate Environmental Systems & Societies (ESS) and Academic and Career Exploration (ACE) partnership provided rewarding experiences for students in both programs. Throughout the spring, students worked together in the Mount Vernon High School greenhouse and garden, learning from one another while caring for plants from seed to harvest. Together, they planted seeds, watered and monitored seedlings, transplanted crops into raised beds, tracked plant growth, and helped maintain the greenhouse and garden spaces.

Check out the video highlighting the partnership below!

What made this partnership so special was the relationships that developed along the way. IB students stepped into leadership roles, sharing their knowledge of environmental science and supporting their ACE peers through each stage of the growing process. ACE students brought enthusiasm, dedication, and a strong sense of responsibility to work, helping to care for the plants and contributing to the success of the project.

The greenhouse became much more than a place to grow plants, it became a place where students learned the value of teamwork, patience, communication, and inclusion. Through their shared efforts, students gained hands-on experience in environmental science while building meaningful connections with one another. The project demonstrated that some of the most powerful learning happens when students work side by side toward a common goal, creating a stronger and more connected school community.