Garden To Kitchen
It has been a wonderful fortnight in our Garden Kitchen Program – Engaging with Place, with students enjoying hands-on learning in our newly restored garden and kitchen spaces.
Throughout the past two weeks, every class has spent time in the garden caring for our growing produce. Students have been watering, weeding, observing plant growth and learning how healthy gardens thrive through care and teamwork. This week we focused on the benefits of compost. It was exciting to discover potatoes growing!
Restarting our compost area - great team work!
The potato discovery this week!
New rhubarb growing after some flooding - great to see!
Our young chefs have also been busy in the kitchen! Students enjoyed preparing and tasting delicious pikelets topped with fresh fruit and a sweet mint yoghurt made with freshly harvested mint from our school garden. This week, they also had great fun making and trying a warm rhubarb and apple crumble. It was tasty!
It has been wonderful to see students demonstrating responsibility, teamwork and safe food preparation skills as they work together in the kitchen. They have also enjoyed reflecting on their garden and kitchen experiences through drawings and journal writing, recording their observations, learning and favourite moments.
We are so proud of the enthusiasm and care our students are showing as they develop practical cooking skills, learn about sustainable gardening, and strengthen their connection with the natural world.
Looking forward to more enjoyable sessions in the garden and kitchen together this semester!
A special thank you to Mount Alexander Timber and Hardware for their generous support of our Garden Kitchen Program. Their donation of timber offcuts enabled our students to create the colourful garden signs to label the herbs and vegetables growing in our garden. We are incredibly grateful for their generosity and support of our students' learning.
What is our Garden Kitchen Program?
Our Garden Kitchen Program will provide authentic, hands-on learning experiences that take students on the journey from "paddock to plate." Through growing, harvesting, preparing and sharing food, students develop practical skills and a deeper understanding of where food comes from.
Throughout the program, students will gradually build confidence in gardening and cooking while developing safe food handling and hygiene practices. They will strengthen their responsibility, teamwork and leadership skills as they work together to care for the garden, prepare seasonal recipes and share meals. Students will also explore sustainable practices through a grow–eat–compost–regrow cycle, investigate plant growth using scientific inquiry, and make meaningful connections between food, culture and traditions. Time spent in the garden also provides valuable opportunities for reflection, mindfulness and connecting with nature.
The Garden Kitchen Program encourages sustainable living and environmental stewardship while promoting students' physical, social and emotional wellbeing. Most importantly, it fosters respect for food, the people who produce it and the natural environment, helping students develop healthy habits and lifelong skills that extend well beyond the classroom.
Science Week – Is coming up from 15th- 23rd August (Week 5)
To celebrate Science Week 2026, our Grade F-6 students will be visiting the Discovery Centre in Bendigo on Wednesday 19th August! Staff and students will be travelling by train to and from the centre.
Students will participate in three different activities throughout the day including a brick motion workshop, exploring the general exhibits and trying out the vertical slide (not compulsory!) The hands-on brick motion workshop, led by the Bendigo Art Gallery Learn Team, allows students to build and animate LEGO® creations while exploring art, movement and the basics of animation through fun, creative activities.
Please complete the permission form sent out via PAM to ensure your child can attend.
Will we also mark this special week with a science focus in our Garden to Kitchen session during week 5.
Clare Grainger
Science and Health & PE Specialist Teacher