The Language of the Season!

It is important to include students in the preparation for Christmas by encouraging them to make their own decorations and to talk about what they are doing. Nano Cottage became a hive of activity as a Nativity Scene was constructed using a cardboard box lid and finger puppets with gold crowns, became the three kings!A yellow 3D star was made using a plastic cup with a cut out star-shape attached and carefully placed on the top of the tree!

Lots of good "At home this is what we do ...." stories, were generated and correct seasonal terminology used! A Christmas wreath was made using a scarf and strawberry candles, with sprigs of lavender placed in the centre!

News from the 'Garden Buds'

The 'Garden Buds' from St John's Primary, Riverstone, plus some of their classmates, enjoyed their second 'Kitchen Garden Bus Tour' on Monday 14 November and visited four Kitchen Garden schools in the Parramatta Diocese, to meet students who share their love of learning by doing!
At St Patrick's Primary Blacktown, students investigated the 'no-dig' garden process, at St Andrew's Primary Marayong, notes were taken on how to grow delicious strawberries and at St Francis of Assisi Primary Glendenning the value of watering plants was experienced first hand!
The animals were a talking point at St Michael's Primary Blacktown South, where the Nagle College agricultural students gave tips on animal care and diet! Nano Cottage provided respite from the heat as the temperature rose to nearly 40 degrees but this didn't deter the students from stirring the compost!

St John's Primary Riverstone
The garden buds: establishment of vegetable and bushtucker gardens

The 'Garden Buds' program is designed to establish a vegetable garden and a bush tucker trail amongst an already extensive native planting on school grounds to complement our semi-rural environment. This project will help to develop and extend the oral language skills of our students as they interact and communicate with others and develop their public speaking skills when presenting information about the garden buds program. This program is supported within the framework of our Catholic ethos as students come to learn and appreciate God's creation. It will allow us to further our recycling practices with the inclusion of worm farms and composting of food waste as well as demonstrate garden to kitchen links with a menu featuring fresh 'home-grown' produce in our parent-run 'Snack Shack' initiative and provide a source of income to feed back to the program with excess produce being sold to school families and friends.

Healthy Hearts Garden Club!

The students at Sacred Heart Primary Mount Druitt South have come up with a wonderful name for their group ... The Healthy Hearts Garden Club!

The club is an opportunity for students needing extra support with their oral language and social skills, to learn how to follow specific instructions, increase their vocabulary and work as a team. The photos show the joy the students are experiencing and the healthy vegies and flowers they have produced ... well done to all the students and teachers, involved!

Strawberries Galore!

The seventh Parramatta Learning Community for Sustainability meeting was held at St Andrew's Primary Marayong on Wednesday16 November, with strawberries galore, both in the garden and served up for a fresh and healthy afternoon tea!
Educators from around the Diocese and the local government area gathered to be given a tour of the garden by Year Six students and to share success stories and 'educational/environmental' wisdom, from their schools and communities.

   

Four schools have offered to host the meetings in 2012, with the first one being held at St Finbar's Primary Glenbrook on Wednesday 7 March, 2-4pm ... more details next year!

Regional Catchment Field Day!

On 26 October 5B went to Plumpton Park to learn about the environment. The first activity we did was to plant Kangaroo Grass in pots for the Park. Then we went on a bush walk to learn the names of trees, such as iron bark and gum trees!
We saw how much pollution there was in the dam and were sad to learn that a lizard died in that unhealthy environment!
We were given some kangaroo grasses to take back to school and plant around our kitchen garden, which is flourishing due to the Spring rain!
Lydon 5B - St Francis of Assisi Primary Glendenning

*This opportunity was an initiative of Blacktown City Council and the event was free!