Starting Young!

It's never too early to start giving children an experience of a Naturalistic Approach to Language! At St Michael's Blacktown South the Playgroup like to visit Nano Cottage Kitchen Garden to observe, discover, exclaim and help out with turning the compost ... the parents and grandparents like to join in the fun, too!

Wait There's More!

The Upper Primary students at Holy Trinity Granville, were happy to include the Kindergarten students in their activities as they added another garden bed to their Kitchen Garden. The Kinders had fun pretending to be plants and they also helped out with the watering of the already  flourishing produce!

 

 

Ten Tiny Things & The Magnificent Tree!

These two books will enhance students' observation and vocabulary skills and give them plenty to talk about!

It was a red thing. It was a sparkly thing.
It was a tiny, tiny thing

Tessa and Zachary have a machine that is swift and splendiferous. Every day it carries them from here to there and back again in cool calm comfort. But one morning, the machine breaks down. Tessa and Zachary are forced to venture into the world beyond its metal walls – a place of secret somethings and hidden happenings. Getting from here to there may never be the same …

 

As you can only imagine, Nick Bland and Stephen Michael King make a STELLAR team. Together, they have created a book that warms your heart from beginning to end. The Magnificent Tree is not only a celebration of the relationship between a child and grandparent, but also a lesson in nurturing small ideas.

Water in the Landscape!

The Water in the Landscape Photo Competition run by Western Sydney Regional Organisation of Councils - WSROC - prompted an interest in all things 'watery' in schools in the Parramatta Diocese. Some photos were entered into the competition and some were simply used to stimulate conversation!

St Patrick's Primary Blacktown won first prize in the Schools category for the 'Pumpkin' photo and St Michael's Primary Blacktown South, won third prize, for the 'Bubble' photo ... congratulations!

www.waterinthelandscape.org.au

Alive!

Alive! is an Environmental Youth Engagement Project that is unique to the Hawkesbury Region. It is an opportunity for students from Stages 3-6 to engage with their school, community and local businesses in taking action on local environmental issues in innovative ways which are linked to the school curriculum.

Schools were invited to participate in a planning day at the University of Western Sydney on 5 June 2012 (UWS is a project partner). Students heard from environmental experts (Catchment Management Authority, Hawkesbury City Council, National Parks and Wildlife and more) on local government issues in the Hawkesbury Region. On this planning day students were guided through creating an action plan addressing an environmental issue based on an Action Learning model.

Students involved in their environmental project will present their work at the Hawkesbury Youth Conference in April 2013 at the University of Western Sydney.

FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT HOW TO GET INVOLVED:

Write to: Hawkesbury Environment Network Inc. PO Box 126 Windsor 2756

Email: info@hen.org.au

Corpus Christi Outdoor Learning!

Corpus Christi Primary

                                                                          86–92 Andromeda Drive

                                                                        Cranebrook NSW 2749

                                                                               Phone:  4729 0696

You are invited to attend:

‘Parramatta Learning Community for Sustainability’ meeting

Wednesday 22 August from 1.30-3.30pm

Sr Mary-Ann Casanova - Project Officer and Assistant to the Director - Catholic Earthcare Australia will be in attendance, along with Zhan Patterson – Project Manager (WSROC).

Damien Feneley - WRS QT Consultant will be the guest speaker.

The students from Corpus Christi Primary will showcase their garden and participants will be invited to share ways in which schools can involve staff and the wider community in the Sustainability/Kitchen Garden initiative.

 ‘Afternoon Tea’ will be available and Kitchen Garden Resources will be on display

Please RSVP – Friday 10 August 2012 to

Clare.Maloney@parra.catholic.edu.au     

http://kitchengardensinschools.blogspot.com

                                                                               

Garden Buds showcase their garden!

The 9th Parramatta Learning Community for Sustainability meeting was held on 13 June 2012, at St John's Primary Riverstone. The 'Garden Buds' took great delight in showcasing their garden and offering fresh produce to the visitors! Educators from local schools and communities gathered to hear presentations ranging from 'Care for the Earth', 'Indoor/Outdoor Education' and 'Starting as you mean to go'... when building a sustainable school!
Good news stories, relating ways to use Kitchen Gardens as 'Learning Environments' were shared and the conversations continued over a scrumptious afternoon tea!

The 10th PLCfS meeting will be held at Corpus Christi Primary Cranebrook on Wednesday 22/8/12, 1.30 - 3.30pm