John Septimus Roe Anglican Community School

JOHN SEPTIMUS ROE ANGLICAN COMMUNITY SCHOOL

CONNECTING WITH NATURE

Kindy students at John Septimus Roe Anglican Community School (JSRACS) are learning to explore their environment through a new initiative called Bush Kindy.

A collaborative initiative with The Friends of Lightning Swamp Bushland (FLSB), the program trials a naturebased bush kindy program in a designated area of Lightning Swamp Bushland.

The initiative is to provide children with an opportunity to explore the environment through multisensory activities, to facilitate learning experiences and encourage curiosity.

In line with the National Quality Framework and the Early Years Learning Framework, the program provides holistic, child centred, ongoing real-life experiences for children to experiment and develop critical thinking skills and social interaction, while connecting to their community and nature.

The program, which aims to connect children to their community and the environment, has been running since Term 2, with staff noting richer oral language and collaboration among the students.

Students are taking healthy risks, becoming investigators of their space and have enhanced their interest in the trees, land and animals around them. A smoking ceremony was performed to formally open the educational area and special guests from the City of Bayswater, the Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions, FLSB members, parents and the The Hon. Amber Jade Sanderson, the Minister for Environment; Climate Action; Commerce attended.

Belinda from Djirrily Dreaming conducted the smoking ceremony with students; they acknowledged the ancestors and paid respect to the land and waters of the area.

Belinda spoke of the traditional forms of communication as students drew Aboriginal symbols in the sand. The children enjoyed playing the honky nut toss game and having their faces painted.

Parents were impressed with the traditional activities and learning taking place, and were proud to see how much their children enjoyed and looked after Bush Kindy.

The Bush Kindy program has begun to span across other year levels; the Year 4s have been investigating the native bees and have made bee hotels, so they have somewhere to nest and students can help protect their habitat.