Rooftop Garden Brings Learning to Life at the Junior School

On the rooftop of the Junior School, a once-empty space has taken root — now growing into a garden of learning, sustainability and community spirit. More than just a patch of greenery, the rooftop garden is a living classroom where science, creativity and compassion flourish side by side.

From Vision to Reality

The project grew out of the recent annex expansion and, though not part of the original plan, quickly became a welcome addition. SMUS Junior School Outdoor Education teacher, Jamie Pope, shared his vision when the first plants were put in the soil last spring: “Our hope is that this space will turn into a little bit of an oasis here at the Junior School.” Just a few months later, that hope is coming to fruition as the garden flourishes.

Students in Grades 3 to 5 have been planting seeds and tending to the thriving beds, gaining practical lessons in how plants grow and thrive. The garden also deepens the school’s commitment to experiential education: every Junior School student has Outdoor Education built into their program, giving them opportunities to learn in hands-on, real-world ways. Getting their hands dirty in the garden is a fun way to literally plant the seed for the benefits of developing a green thumb. Looking ahead, students will also explore new technologies such as an aeroponic growing system, which the school hopes to power through solar or wind energy.

Growing Food, Growing Community

A central purpose of the garden is rooted in giving back. SMUS has partnered with FED Urban Agriculture Society, a Victoria-based nonprofit that creates rooftop gardens across the city. The project is guided by Alistair Howes, Special Projects and Engagement Manager at FED, whose expertise is helping shape the garden's design and long-term impact. The produce harvested from the Junior School’s garden will be donated to support vulnerable populations, showing students that their efforts can have a meaningful impact in the wider community.

The rooftop garden has quickly become a source of excitement throughout the school. Staff and students alike are imagining possibilities — from experimenting with renewable energy to exploring innovative ways of growing food in an urban setting. Most importantly, the space invites students to connect with nature, nurture living things and discover the power of contributing to something larger than themselves.

What began as an unexpected “bonus” to the annex project is blossoming into something much more: a place where learning takes root and extends outward, nourishing both the SMUS community and the city beyond.