St Mary's School, Castlemaine

Wellbeing

Hi St Mary’s,

 

I’m really excited to announce that whole school cooking and gardening is back on at St Mary’s. We have been very lucky to secure a grant that allows us to be part of the Stephanie Alexander Gardening and Cooking Program for the next 4 years. I believe that gardening, cooking and sustainability has in the past been a cornerstone of our school and to have it back in an official capacity feels great. Part of the grant will allow us to develop our outdoor play area and sensory garden as well. It is a great way to support the wellbeing of our students. This will sit nicely with our PBL (Positive Behaviour for Learning), Zones of Regulation and Social Detectives programs that Steph Silvagni, our resident Speech Pathologist and I are developing at the moment to implement in Term 1 2025. Watch this space!

 

Stephanie Alexander Cooking and Gardening Program 

(Information from the website)

The globally-recognised Kitchen Garden Program for Primary Schools is a fun, hands-on learning program delivering curriculum integration and a focus on student health, wellbeing, collaboration and leadership.

At the heart of the Kitchen Garden Program is pleasurable food education, which inspires children and young people to understand and connect with fresh, seasonal, delicious food through fun, hands-on learning in the kitchen and garden. This approach empowers students to develop practical skills, an appreciation of seasonal produce and a positive, confident and healthy relationship with food — for life.

Benefits of the Kitchen Garden Program

The Kitchen Garden Program offers students: 

  • lifelong practical skills
  • opportunities to experience wellbeing and connectedness
  • alternate ways of learning for increased engagement
  • investigations into sustainability and food security. 

For schools and educators the program provides: 

  • easy-to-access curriculum-integrated materials adaptable to any school environment 
  • personalised support and guidance from our Support Team, five days a week
  • professional development opportunities, both online and face-to-face
  • inspiration and networking via our robust community of practice 
  • increased community and social inclusion.   

We have all the infrastructure in place and the chooks and garden are ready to go. Staff will also be engaging in some professional development to help support them support our students. Please let me know if you would like to help in the garden or school grounds.

I will be in the garden on Thursday afternoons from 2.15. It would be great to see you there.

Have a great weekend and enjoy having some time with your kids over holidays.

 

Regards,

Mark O’Sullivan

Wellbeing Leader