Garden and Environment

Autumn has arrived in the garden . . .

The colours of the garden are brilliant and beautiful, showcasing the spectrum through its sunflowers, rainbow chard, capsicum, beans, peas, soft herbs and tomatoes of many varieties. Our bounty of tomatoes is being harvested by all class groups and are enjoyed with gusto straight from the plant. Students are showing enthusiasm for all aspects of the garden and enjoy activities such as soil shifting, composting, pest hunting, bird watching, harvesting, and planting. They make timely connections to their classroom inquiry learning in 'How the World Works 'and share their ideas and knowledge with peers.

We are excited and grateful to have received our new directional signpost in the garden, featuring Woiwurrung language of the Wurundjeri People. We can now navigate and follow the arc of the sun through the day using words spoken on these lands from ancient times. This important tool is a result of student action following study about ‘Who Came Before’ in 2022. Our current Year Two students suggested we research and use words from people indigenous to this area to celebrate and care for language that has been lost over time. We would like to thank volunteers (and past parents of Rowville Primary School) from the Rowville Men’s Shed, who gave us time, expertise, and materials to make our signs. Rowville Men’s Shed are holding an Open Day to showcase their workshop and activities this Saturday 25 March. Everybody is welcome to visit and learn more about their community projects. 

In chicken news . . . our girls have blossomed into beautiful adult hens. Scarlett, our Buff Sussex, is enormous and loves a cuddle. Galina, one of two Light Sussex is very proud of her bright red comb. Her twin, Elizabeth has given up on hoarding tomatoes in the hope that they will hatch. She has left the nesting box at last and is over her ‘broody’ weeks. Students have noticed her dropping soft feathers from her ‘tutu’ and are wondering why this is happening. Lastly, Phoenix, our spotted beauty (and maybe everybody’s favourite), has shown our school values of resilience and perseverance to become a welcome part of the flock at last. 

Wishing you all very happy final weeks of Term One.

Kind Regards,

Kate Newman, Garden/Environment Teacher

Belinda Williams, Horticulturist