Children at St Aloysius School in Redan have added a new set of studies to their curriculum, and the new subjects let them get their hands dirty.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
The pupils will take charge of their new food garden - and once they've washed their hands will also get busy in the kitchen to create dishes using the produce from their Stephanie Alexander Kitchen Garden.
Deputy principal Donna Bryce said the kitchen garden program was a wonderful way to get children excited about their learning.
"The program inspires a wonderful opportunity for the children to learn about sustainable living - to learn, how food is grown, harvested, prepared and shared," Ms Bryce said.
Children in year three and four will be the first to try their hand at small-scale fruit and vegetable farming and cooking the results.
"The program will stimulate the children's senses, developing their relationship with nature by working in the garden and seeing their toil rewarded with fresh, organic produce, creating eating delights in the kitchen which they share with each other," she said.
The school is one of about 20 across the Ballarat region who are members of the Stephanie Alexander Kitchen Garden program.
School staff and members of the wider school community at St Aloysius decided, in term four last year, to look at ways to develop a greater engagement of the students, to enable them to become stewards of creation in both words and action.
The kitchen garden program ticked all the boxes.
"A lot of planning and work has gone into implementing the program and designing the work areas for the children to be able to begin this year," Ms Bryce said.
Staff member Clare Quick has used her outdoor design and gardening skills to help bring the project to life, and colleague Belinda Cooper, who is renowned at school for her baking skills, will take charge in the kitchen.
Ballarat Regional Industries made and installed the raised garden, while school families helped move metres of soil in to the gardens.
Have you signed up to The Courier's daily newsletter and breaking news emails? You can register below and make sure you are up to date with everything that's happening in Ballarat.
