Principal Chat

Dear Families,

For this newsletter I was inspired to write about outdoor learning and nature inspired experiences by the ever evolving stick structures the students are building in the playground at the moment during recess and lunch. They are like little ants scurrying around collecting sticks and bark and natural materials to take back to their evolving constructions to add to the structures.

In our busy, technology-driven lives, it’s easy to overlook the unique benefits that come from spending time outdoors. Outdoor learning and nature-based experiences offer children fresh opportunities to develop their creativity, teamwork, and sense of wonder about the world. Whether it’s a structured lesson in a school garden, a spontaneous game in the playground, or an excursion to a local park, these moments spark curiosity and bring learning to life in vibrant ways.

Research continues to show that children learn best when they are actively engaged. Outdoor environments allow students to experiment, observe, and discover while developing physical skills and social connections. Being in nature is also linked to improved mental health, focus, and wellbeing, helping children recharge and build resilience against everyday stresses.

Here, at Niangala Public School we try to integrate nature-based activities regularly by exploring local flora and fauna through the Bird Project in Science and Technology, planting, nurturing and cooking our own vegetables through the Green Thumbs and Cooking initiative, conducting science experiments relevant to nature, incorporating art projects using natural materials, or simply encouraging creative play and exploration. These experiences can also foster appreciation for the environment and a sense of responsibility to care for it.

There are so many simple and fun ways that we can encourage outdoor activities:

Art and Craft: Try nature-inspired art projects, like creating leaf rubbings, painting pebbles, or making collages from collected flowers, sticks, and leaves. Chalk drawings on the pavement or building stick sculptures are also great for creative expression.
Exercise: Organise a family walk or bike ride, play games like tag or hide and seek in the backyard, or set up a simple obstacle course with hoops, cones, or ropes to jump and climb over.
Play: Encourage imaginative play—build a fort or cubby house from branches or cardboard boxes, put on a backyard puppet show, or have a scavenger hunt to find interesting natural objects together.
Building: Work together on projects like constructing a birdhouse, planting a small veggie patch, or designing and building boats from recycled materials to float in a pond or tub.

These experiences not only support learning and skills development but also create lasting memories and foster a deeper connection to nature, we help open the door for children to explore, question, and connect with the world around them. These experiences have lasting benefits that extend far beyond the immediacy of the experience, we are helping students develop skills and attitudes that prepare them for lifelong learning.

School Support Staff Recognition Week

Our School Support Staff play a vital role in our school. They are central to supporting our students, the bridge to our community, and help our school run smoothly everyday. They are the backbone of our school community and their impact is deeply felt across every part of school life. For this we thank you. We recognise all that you do, we are grateful for all that you do and we thank you for all that you do. Thank you to our awesome school support staff, Debbie Wall, Hannah Dunn, AJ Hunt, Beth Higgins and Aaron Scully.

Father's Day

Happy Father’s Day to all the dads, step-dads, grandads, carers, and father figures in our school community. Thank you for your care, guidance, and support. We celebrate everyone who fills a fatherly role in the lives of our students.

Hannah Crawford

Principal

Niangala Public School