SAKG

In the Kitchen this Term

It’s been a busy term in the kitchen for the 3/4’s and 5/6’s.

We started out reviewing the important rules around working in a kitchen, especially one as busy as ours! The students have learnt about how to safely use knives and about the different techniques for cutting. They have been getting lots of practice with the guidance of teachers, volunteers and myself.

Working in kitchen groups students have prepared some delicious dishes that they have enjoyed sharing and eating together.

Many parents might be surprised to see their children trying foods they never thought they would, and also seeing how much their children love cleaning up the mess they have made. Students are thrilled to be chosen to stack the dishwasher or wash and dry the serving plates. Some of the favourite jobs are emptying the compost, washing the benches and sweeping the floor! It is fantastic to see everyone pitching in.

To finish off the term some parents got to have a turn participating in their own kitchen class. We had a lot of fun making gnocchi with pesto, beeswax food wraps and fruit crumble. It wasn’t about learning how to cook certain foods, but more about working together and trying things we may not have before, just like our students do.

Thank you to our wonderful volunteers in kitchen classes. Your help means our students are well supervised while learning some great life skills.

Look out for the Compass update over the holidays to sign up to volunteering in kitchen classes next term.

I am looking forward to another great term in the kitchen after the break.

Elisa

What’s Going on in the Garden - Term 1

Another term has flown by and the Foundation, Grade 1 and 2 students have had an amazing start to the year in the garden. Here’s a sneaky peek at all of the fun we’ve been having:

We kicked off the term with discovery: learning why we need gardens and all the living things that call them home. We covered everything from plants, to insects, to wiggly compost worms.

Taking science out of the classroom and into the wild, we learned about the life cycle of plants hands-on – and had lots of fun in the process! We found all kinds of seeds in the garden, discussing how and why they turn into beautiful plants – also growing our knowledge of insects pollinating flowers to create the seeds that produce fruit and vegetables.

The students sowed broad beans, lettuce, beetroot and parsley and were thrilled to see them grow so big in just a few weeks. Having a greenhouse means that our seedlings grow in a safe environment free from harsh weather and hungry insects.

The children now understand insects play an important role in the garden. We learned about introduced species like the common Honey Bee, and native species including the Blue Banded Bee - both are thriving in the Monty Primary Kitchen Garden!

Creating a safe place for beneficial insects is key to encourage planet-saving pollination. Inspired to increase the biodiversity at our school, the Foundation, Grade 1 and Grade 2 students came together to create Monty’s Bug Hotel. We searched the school’s natural environment to find materials that would be great for bugs to nest in and arranged it to watch them thrive.

I want to say a huge thank you to our student monitors that play a huge role in making the Kitchen Garden Program possible. Here’s some of the great stuff they do:

• Irrigation Monitors – Grade 3/4 students water the greenhouse and Labyrinth Garden.
• Chicken Monitors – Grade 3/4 Students care for the chickens daily. This includes feeding, collecting eggs and cleaning out their pen.
• Compost Monitors – Environment Captains and 3/4 students collect classroom compost daily.

To our amazing volunteers, we’re so lucky to have you helping out with Garden classes, caring for our chickens and contributing to the program in so many ways. You are gold!

Claire