At Christ the King Catholic School, Salad Day brought a fresh twist to lunchtime, thanks to the school’s Wellbeing Team and a whole lot of student-grown greens.

The journey started months ago when Mme Dakin-Visser kindly loaned an indoor grower to the school. With that spark, students began growing their own lettuce from seed—learning how to care for it, watching it thrive, and finally harvesting it just in time for Salad Day.

As part of the You’re the Chef program, Grade 8 students took the lead in the kitchen—washing, chopping, and preparing the ingredients before serving a healthy salad to every student in the school. The final dish featured their homegrown lettuce and a colourful mix of veggies.

“It was such a wonderful celebration,” said Angèle Monette, Principal at Christ the King. “The students were genuinely proud of what they had grown, and you could see how much it meant to them to share it with their classmates.”

While some students were eager for seconds, others admitted they were a little unsure at first—but almost all gave it a try. One student shared, “It was cool to see the lettuce we grew end up on our plates!”

This hands-on experience wasn’t just about nutrition—it was a lesson in patience, responsibility, and the joy that comes from growing something yourself. And for Christ the King students, it turns out the best way to grow enthusiasm is to grow your own salad.