From the
Principal
Dear Parents / Carers,
One cannot escape the news regarding the weather in Europe. The heatwave and the fires that have spread to other countries in Europe, including France, Spain, Poland and Greece have dominated the news. I trust that the relatives of our families of Greek origin that reside in Greece are safe.
Events such as this confirm to me the importance of environmental education and the need to have a strong connection to the philosophy behind our Garden/Environment Program. The relevance is self-evident... climate change, global warming, sustainable living, green energy, are the words that our students hear daily. A hands-on approach to sustainability education is a long-term view, providing skills for the future.
Our students experience learning about sustainability and responsibility of care for our planet by making meaningful connections through their student-centred classroom inquiry programs and real, hands-on connection with nature, learning by doing. By being provoked with wonder, questions and exposed to non-fiction and fiction texts, they can appreciate how Earth has supported life over time, how the world’s peoples engage with resources and possible solutions for meeting needs for survival in a sustainable way in the future.
A wander through our garden at recess or lunchtime sees students choosing to spend time harvesting, mulching, feeding, watering, composting, and caring for our chooks. Most importantly, they are wondering, asking questions, sharing their experiences of gardening at home with family and collaborating with others, all in their own playtime!
Students particularly love spending time with Belinda, our expert Horticulturalist, on Mondays. Many have ongoing projects with her, related to their interests. It’s also a thrill to know students want to take produce home, to share with their families, to taste something new, or a garden-fresh favourite.
Our Foundation Students are currently enjoying the book The Gentle Genius of Trees, finding out all about the resources trees provide to all living things. They have focused on trees as habitats but also learned that trees make oxygen that we breathe and clean up our waste gases. They independently make the logical connection that trees are vital to life on Earth.
In Year Four, students work with a Geologist to study soils and the interconnection of soil, human activity, produce, pollution and erosion. They are motivated to think about building healthy soils through composting and safe disposal of waste.
By Year Six, students are aware of the impacts of human action in our resource seeking and can explain why deforestation has severe consequences for climate. They are empowered to know they have choices as daily decision makers and can use their problem-solving abilities. They build 21st Century learning skills such as researching, designing, collaborating and communicating to show responsibility by taking positive personal action.
Our school garden is a small-scale representation of agriculture, nature at work, seasonal cycles and impacts of severe weather. It is a rich and powerful learning resource for our students at Rowville Primary School.
An enrolment enquiry...
Kind regards,
Anne Babich
Principal