Sadie Vernon is growing more than just minds—it’s growing food, too.

When you think of farming, you probably picture wide open fields in the countryside—but one Belize City high school is flipping that idea on its head. This morning, Sadie Vernon High School officially launched its very own aquaponics system, built right on campus by a group of second form students. And they didn’t just get their hands dirty building it, they also learned how to write formal letters to local businesses, asking for support and materials to bring their project to life. It’s a hands-on lesson in sustainability, teamwork, and real-world skills, all rolled into one. News Five’s Paul Lopez was there for the big reveal and has the full story.

 

Paul Lopez, Reporting

This morning, Sadie Vernon officially opened its aquaponics greenhouse, marking an exciting new chapter in its academic journey. The project blends science, sustainability, and hands-on learning, giving students a chance to explore modern farming right on campus. The initiative was made possible thanks to support from the business community and the Ministry of Education, and it’s being led by English teacher Malaak Middleton along with her enthusiastic second form students. Together, they’re proving that with teamwork and vision, even a classroom can become a farm.

 

Malaak Middleton, Teacher, Sadie Vernon High School

“I wanted to find a way how I could bring a little agriculture into the school setting. So when we came upon formal letter writing we wanted to use that as a vehicle to engage students in writing and also having a physical aspect to a little production that they can see how they can possible open a little small business or how they can bring it to their own communities in the end.”

 

Before construction began, Middleton’s students had to first engage in writing a formal letter of request to businesses within their community. Through this process they sharpened their writing skills and the response from the business community was favorable.

 

Malaak Middleton

“At first I had to go over the parts of that letter with them. I had to make sure that they know what the tone of the message is, what to put in that letter and we got them started on that. So we worked together to compose what we needed them to have in that letter.”

 

Teacher Malaak Middleton’s classroom isn’t just about theory, it’s about action. Her students didn’t just learn how to write formal letters; they used those skills to reach out to local businesses, who responded by donating the materials needed to build an aquaponics system. Instead of relaxing over their two-week Easter break, these dedicated second formers rolled up their sleeves and got to work—building the system right on their school grounds. For students like Joselin Sanchez, the experience was unforgettable. She now knows how to write professional requests and how to grow food using aquaponics.

 

Joselin Sanchez, Student, Sadie Vernon High School

“You see there is many things about an aquaponics. But, what I learned is that the waste from the fish leads from one tube to the motor and then there is another pipe that leads to the barrel that funnels the water. The water then goes to the stones. The stones release the waste and that is where the plants feeds on. And it is just a cycle that goes on and on and from the plants we can feed off and the fish can feed as well.”

 

Paul Lopez

“Is it not incredible that the waste that we would normally see as disgusting can help to produce our food?”

 

Joselin Sanchez

“It is amazing. At first I thought it was nasty, but when I come to learn about it, it is amazing. I could not believe it myself. It was kind of hard, but as I was doing it with my classmates they made it a lot more easier and it was fun as well.”

 

Principal Deborah Martin says the now fully operational aquaponics farming system on campus adds to the quality of education and student life offered by the high school. She believes it’s boosting both the quality of education and student life at Sadie Vernon High, giving students hands-on experience they can carry far beyond the classroom.

 

Deborah Martin, Principal, Sadie Vernon High School

“It is definitely helping to improve our brand here at Sadie Vernon High School and of course the quality of education. We are teaching them to focus on sustainable development and working along with their community. Because as our teacher said aquaponics is embedded in the idea of providing things for yourself and then eventually sharing it with your community.”

 

The school says it hopes to replicate this theory to application approach across all levels on campus. Reporting for News Five, I am Paul Lopez.