Sustainability @ TPPS 

Last week it was National Bilby Day and we learned so many amazing facts about these very special Australian marsupials.

Bilbies used to be common in all Australian deserts but have become endangered since the introduction of foxes, rabbits, feral cats and hooved animals.

They are expert diggers who have up to 12 spiral-shaped burrows each, and their ability to dig around in the soil helps seeds to germinate and water to find its way to plants. This means they make an essential contribution to the desert environment. 

Conservationists and scientists have been trying to protect bilbies by creating safe zones surrounded by predator-proof fencing and also setting up breeding programs in zoos.

Grade 3 students have been studying flowers and learning the names of the parts of a flower. 

They had a lovely time opening up flowers and investigating their parts close up with magnifying glasses! 

This week the students also planted some new vegetables in the garden. We learned from tragic experience how quickly the snails can eat up those delicious little seedlings, so we tried a new strategy to trick them. We chose some nice fresh smelly herbs like rosemary, lavender and southernwood and chopped little bits of them all around our new plants. So far it has worked in camouflaging the smell of the vegetable seedlings and deterring the snails.

The hens have been enjoying a lovely dust bath under the fruit trees. The Grade 1 students like the happy little purring noises the hens make when they are patted!