Nano's Nature Nurturers

The NNN meeting at Nano Cottage on 8 August was an opportunity for local school representatives to discuss important issues, such as reduction in Lost Property, Climate Club, the Mobile Phone Muster and disposal of plastic bottles.
Recycled pots, containing soil and seeds were sold at the Fathers' Day stall, along with 'Nano Chefs' recipe books.


St Michael's school has been successful in an application for a ‘Birds in Backyard’ grant and will receive $2000 which will cover the setting up of bird feeding boxes and the purchase of binoculars!
The next meeting will be held on Monday 31 October at 3.15pm in the Father Kevin Dadswell Learning Centre.

Parents invited to attend!

This time the Nano Nature Nurturers' invited parents to attend the meeting which was held in the library. Two mothers came to join in the discussions on how best to promote 'care for our earth', at St Michael's Primary Blacktown South!
Ideas ranged from 'Reduction in Lost Property' and 'Climate Club' to 'Mobile Phone Muster'! The 'Friends of Our Earth Team' (the group responsible for contributing to the school Newsletter) will let parents know that shredded paper is available for collection from the student foyer to be used at home for composting or pet cages! The next meeting will be held at Nano Cottage on Monday 8 August at 3.15pm ... all welcome!

                                 

'From Little Things Big Things Grow'!

Nano's Nature Nurturers

Nano’s Nature Nurturers

Meeting held at Nano Cottage - St Michael’s Primary Blacktown South

                                                             3 March 2011

Present:       Charlotte Gourlie, Anne-Marie Friend, Gai Clark: St Michael’s        

                   Clare Maloney: Itinerant Teacher: Communication – CEO

                       

Apologies:    Michael Siciliano: St Michael’s, Zhan Patterson: BCC             

                  

Reflection:   ‘We should continue to experiment with educational technology, but we should also preserve a crucial place for unwired, unplugged and unconnected learning.’ Mark Bauerlein

1. The reduction of items in ‘Lost Property’ is encouraging – Anne-Marie will investigate a labelling company, to give parents the opportunity to have all school uniforms clearly labelled … thank you Anne-Marie!
2. Anne-Marie is now the contributor for the ‘Friends of Our Earth’ section in the fortnightly school newsletter. Any relevant items to Anne-Marie, a week in advance please.
3. Clean up Australia Day will be held at St Michael’s on Friday 11 March … thank you Charlotte for organising this event!
4. Charlotte represented St Michael’s at the Parramatta Learning Community for Sustainability meeting, which was held at St John’s Primary Riverstone on Wednesday 16 February. Clare represented CEO. The next meeting will be held on Wednesday 8 June, at St Patrick’s Primary Blacktown, at 2pm. The showcase will be the Kitchen Garden and the new Cottage!
5. Clare will submit an application to Landcare for a $1000 grant through the Education Environment Award. If successful the funding will be used to securely fence around Nano Cottage Kitchen Garden, as two miniature calves will be taking up residence at Nagle Farm soon and memories of Taco, the calf, jumping the garden fence are still fresh!
6. The idea of promoting ‘Nudie Food’ containers for students lunches was again discussed … maybe this could be promoted through ‘FOOE’?
7. The school has now registered for the ‘Mobile Phone’ muster … see Charlotte for further details … thank you Charlotte!     

8. ‘Earth Hour’ is on Saturday 26 March and students and their families will be reminded to participate via ‘FOOE’, in the newsletter. Teachers will be encouraged at ‘Staff Briefing’ to have a regular ‘Earth Hour’ at least once a week.

9. School or class leaders will be asked to make posters to place around the school, encouraging all students to be ‘Friends of Our Earth’…exemplary students will be given an ‘FOOE Award’ at a school assembly. Such jobs may include: turning off lights, fans and monitors, picking up rubbish, watering plants, composting at NCKG, reporting leaking taps, researching current environmental issues, etc!

10. The school newsletter prior to the next NNN meeting (thank you Anne-Marie!) will invite interested parents to come to the library at 3.20pm and add their wisdom to the group … Gai will check with Judy re the availability of the library on that day?  … thank you Gai!         

Next Meeting: 3.20pm Monday 23 May -Term 2 in the Library …                                                                             thank you Judy!

                              ALL WELCOME

                       Website of interest: www.citychicks.com.au                

NNN meeting 3/3/11

          

            

Nano's Nature Nurturers

Nano’s Nature Nurturers

Inaugural meeting held at Nano Cottage Kitchen Garden-10 May 2010   

*8^th anniversary of the Opening of Nano Cottage

Present: Michael Siciliano:          Acting Principal

             Charlotte Gourlie:          3G

             Sandra Russo:                3R

             Clare Maloney:               Itinerant Teacher: Communication

Meeting opened with the quote:

“Give people a fish and feed them for a day, teach people to fish and feed them for many a day”

1. Michael would like NNN to be a group which does things differently (as regards the environment) not extra things
2. A compost bin has been organised for Recess food scraps – (thanks Coley for donating the bin)
3. Charlotte has applied for a grant through Blacktown Council for appropriate varieties of trees to be planted around the school

(*This application was successful – congratulations Charlotte)

4.  A suggestion for classes to “adopt a garden” and be responsible to plant, water and weed it, will be followed up by Sandra and Charlotte

5.  Clare can provide seeds and cuttings from NCKG, if requested

6.  A worm farm will be set up so worm juice can be used as fertiliser

7.  Projects such as water and energy saving could be introduced, by teachers encouraging students to turn off taps, lights, fans, computer monitors and reporting leaking taps and investigating types of taps used

8.  Clare has a list of websites to share if teachers are interested; a good place to start is Biodiversity for Kids, Stephanie Alexander Foundation and the Martin Luther King Edible School Yard

                                   

Next Meeting 3.15pm Monday 21 June Week 10 at NCKG

    ALL WELCOME!

Nano's Nature Nurturers

Nano’s Nature Nurturers

          Meeting held at Nano Cottage Kitchen Garden - 21June 2010  

Present: Michael Siciliano         Assistant Principal

             Charlotte Gourlie         3G

             Sandra Russo               3R

             Zhan Patterson            Sustainable Resources Engagement Officer

                                                Blacktown City Council

             Clare Maloney             Itinerant Teacher: Communication

 Prayer- “Let us make a start, however small”

             (Windows on the Gospel – Flor McCarthy)

1. Nano Cottage Kitchen Garden Language Group students and three Year Six students will travel to the River Recovery Nursery, Oxley Park, on Wednesday 21 July for an environmental project with the Greening Australia Schools program. On Wednesday 25 August, the students will plant out tube stock trees and ground cover in a designated area of the school.

2. Charlotte has placed an item in the school Newsletter re the McCain’s Veggie Patch offer.

3. Charlotte will investigate a “novel/innovative” idea, in order to apply for a Young Horticulturist Grant. Applications will be received up until 2011.

4. Sandra will organize a day for teachers to label students’ hats and jackets, to minimise “wastage” of students’ uniforms and to save money for parents.

5. Clare to meet with Mitchell in 6E, to discuss sustainability issues which can be implemented in the school. Reference: www.sydneywater.com.au/education

6. Michael to contact All Saints Primary at Liverpool to discuss their sustainability audit and the process involved.

7. Charlotte and Sandra to periodically write a small item for the school Newsletter, under a title e.g. “Green News” or “Nano Nature Nurturers”, accompanied by a photo of interest, to highlight initiatives happening at the school, or to give practical hints. E.g. How to reduce flies in the compost bin!

           

8. Zhan raised issues around:

• Population growth doubling by 2050
• Climate Change
• Social Justice
• Education
• Reduce, reuse, recycle
• Tracking carbon use
• Think global – act local
• Deep embedding in school culture – transformation of the way we do business 

Zhan is available to speak with students on Waste Management issues and can also speak at staff meetings, (in her own free time) on ways which Education for Sustainability, can be integrated into the curriculum …….. Thank you Zhan!

The “Parramatta Learning Community for Sustainability” meeting is on Wednesday 8 September, 11.30am at St Francis of Assisi Primary Glendenning. Guest speaker will be Jacqueline Remond, Executive Director of Catholic Earthcare Australia.

Websites/Books of interest:

www.Lovefoodhatewaste.com

www.best-solutions.com.au

http://www.thegreenpages.com.au/                                                                          

http://www.mri.com.au/                   

                       

www.zoo.org.au/calling_on_you

http://www.treeproject.asn.au/

Outdoor Classrooms – a handbook for school gardens by Carolyn Nuttall & Janet Millington

How to succeed with Education for Sustainability by Josephine Lang

      Next Meeting 3.15pm Monday 9 August - Week 4 at NCKG

                                   ALL WELCOME

         

Students experience nature “first hand” at St Michael’s as animals wander around the farm and gentle rain falls on Nano Cottage Kitchen Garden!

Nano's Nature Nurturers

Nano’s Nature Nurturers

  Meeting held in the library St Michael’s Primary Blacktown South

                                         9 August 2010  

Present:  Charlotte Gourlie, Sandra Russo, Danielle Ottley,

               Paula Murphy, Gai Clark, Alicia Politano: St Michael’s           

               Carol Hawkes:       St Patrick’s Primary Blacktown

               Carolyn Duval:      Good Shepherd Primary Plumpton       

               Zhan Patterson:     Sustainable Resources Engagement Officer - BCC

               Clare Maloney:      Itinerant Teacher: Communication - CEO

Apologies:    John Laffan:          Principal - St Michael’s,

                        Michael Siciliano:   Assistant Principal - St Michael’s

 Reflection – “Just the Way You Are”

1. On Wednesday 25 August, Nano Cottage Kitchen Garden Language Group students and three Year Six students will plant out tube stock trees and ground cover in a designated area of the school. This is Part 2 of an environmental project with the Greening Australia Schools program.

2. Charlotte is collecting coupons through the McCain’s Veggie Patch offer, which closes on 31 October.

3. Sandra organized a day for teachers to label students’ hats and jackets, to minimise “wastage” of students’ uniforms and to save money for parents.

4. The school newsletter now has a “Green Zone” column … thanks Sandra … feel free to contribute!

5. Clare suggested that schools adopt the idea of a “Waste Free Wednesday” where all rubbish brought to school on that day, is taken home.

6. Zhan presented the group with challenging questions on environmental issues and asked participants to give reasons for their answers – very thought provoking! Zhan also spoke about every day items which are made using OIL such as sticking tape, aspirins, credit cards and lipstick, with a reminder that the continued supply of oil is not a given! Zhan showed vision of a community village in Scotland where residents are working towards sustainability … very inspiring! Thank you Zhan for your contribution, especially on your day off!

September is Biodiversity Month, Week 2 – Term 4 is Water Week and the Parramatta Learning Community for Sustainability meeting is on Wednesday 8 September, 11.30am at St Francis of Assisi Primary Glendenning. Guest presenters  will be Jacqueline Remond, Executive Director of Catholic Earthcare Australia and Zhan Patterson Sustainable Resources Engagement Officer – BCC.

 A website of interest: www.lifeisagarden.com.au

Next Meeting: 3.15pm Monday 1 November - Week 4 -Term 4 at NCKG

                                            (All Saints day)

                                        ALL WELCOME

Charlotte's delicious carrot and walnut cake ... thanks Charlotte!

Nano's Nature Nurturers

Nano’s Nature Nurturers

Meeting held at Nano Cottage - St Michael’s Primary Blacktown South

                                         1 November 2010  

Present:       Charlotte Gourlie, Sandra Russo, Gai Clark, Michael Siciliano:            St Michael’s      

                   Carol Hawkes:       St Patrick’s Primary Blacktown  

                    Zhan Patterson:     Sustainable Resources Engagement Officer - BCC

                    Clare Maloney:      Itinerant Teacher: Communication – CEO

                        Peter Blanch:         Science Teacher: Oakhill College, Castle Hill

Apologies:    John Laffan, Paula Murphy: St Michael’s          

                  

Reflection   The Daffodils – William Wordsworth

1. Planting of trees and grasses was successfully carried out on 25 August. Students recently observed the progress of the plantings and at least 85% are doing well!

2. Charlotte reported that potato bags (see instructions); netting and packets of seeds were received as a result of the McCain’s Veggie Patch promotion. Gloves from the Telegraph give away, will also be used by NCKG students … well done Charlotte!

3. Sandra continues to encourage all students to have name labels on hats and jackets to minimise wastage of students’ uniforms and to save money for parents … Keep up the challenge Sandra!

4. “Green Zone” has become a regular in the school newsletter … Thank you Sandra and best wishes! A new contributer will be needed to replace Sandra in 2011?
5. Waste Free Wednesday was again discussed … suggestions that it commence with primary students only and all other students encouraged to bring their lunch in “Nudie” containers or something similar, which makes cling wrap unnecessary. A “No Rubbish Day” was also discussed …. On this day all bins would be removed from the playground and all rubbish taken home. Parents would need to be informed in advance.

6. Zhan is able to give session on Waste Management, to nominated grades, in December …. Charlotte to organise dates. Thank you Zhan!

7. Charlotte will represent St Michael’s at the Parramatta Learning Community for Sustainability meeting, to be held at St Bernadette’s Lalor Park on Wednesday 24 November. Kevin Mills (principal) will represent St Patrick’s Blacktown and Clare will represent CEO.

8. Charlotte and Clare are preparing an application for a Student Sustainability Leadership grant, on offer from Westpac Junior Landcare. This will involve Years Five and Six students and needs to be completed by 10 December 2010. John is supporting this project and Zhan hopes to be able to endorse it. A “One World Garden” concept has been floated which would involve all families contributing a brick, to build a garden bed in the vicinity of the new Learning Centre. Planting may include native/edible species, from diverse cultural backgrounds …. Watch this space!

9. Zhan shared the following names as reference for “Deep Ecology”. Google: John Seed, Joanna Macy and Arne Naess – known as the father of Deep Ecology. Worth a look … thank you Zhan!

10. Peter’s talk about Oakhill College was both informative and inspiring. He spoke of the steps taken to declare the college, Carbon Neutral and the ongoing challenge to reach Carbon Sustainability! Small steps include:

☼       turning off lights and computer monitors

☼        recycling paper and anything with a recycling symbol

☼        researching the story of rubbish

☼        joining the Sustainable Schools Network (Charlotte will revisit)

☼        encouraging the school leadership team, students and parents to come on board

☼        embedding a “Care for the Environment” into four levels of school life: Faith, Service Sport and Academia

☼        introducing all staff to“On Holy Ground” see www.catholicearthcare.org.au

☼        keeping “All things Green” on the agenda, e.g. Green Awards at assemblies, posters around the school, mention at staff meetings, etc.

            Peter may be available to speak at staff meetings in 2011, if requested!

          Next Meeting: 3.15pm Thursday 3 March -Term 1 at NCKG

                              

                                        ALL WELCOME

                       Old Indian saying: “Better to know one mountain, than climbed many”

NNN meeting 1/11/10