St John’s garden bus tour across the diocese

St John's principal, Marian Bell, said that students have shown improved social interaction skills

The kitchen garden tour was a 'hands on' experience for students

On Monday 14 November, a group of students from St John’s Primary, Riverstone took part in a kitchen garden bus tour visiting several school gardens across the diocese to learn more about the environment as part of the Kitchen Gardens in Schools program aimed at developing students oral language skills.

20 students from Kindergarten to Year 6 were selected to take part in the tour to experience 'hands-on' garden activities aimed at improving social and oral language skills. The students were paired with a buddy to record the highlights of the day and to talk about ideas (improving oral language skills) they could take from other school gardens to incorporate at St John’s.

Nagle College, Blacktown’s bus transported the students on the Kitchen Garden Bus Tour leaving from St John’s to tour the gardens of their neighbouring Catholic schools including St Francis of Assisi Primary, Glendenning; St Patrick’s Primary, Blacktown; St Michael’s Primary, Blacktown South and St Andrew’s Primary, Marayong.

At each school, the St John’s students were greeted by student representatives who showed them around their school’s garden, discussed current initiatives and answered questions.

Itinerant communication teacher, Clare Maloney from Catholic Education, Diocese of Parramatta, is very involved in the Kitchen Gardens in Schools program and said that she hopes more schools and students can be involved in next year’s tour.

‘This experience has enabled students to practice their social skills in a challenging, yet friendly environment,’ said Clare.  ‘Wonderful kitchen gardens are flourishing in schools around the diocese and research shows that it is a great way of developing oral language skills while learning about the environment.’

St John’s principal, Marian Bell said that the kitchen garden program has been a powerful learning tool for her students.

‘It is really opening their eyes to the possibilities,’ said Marian. ‘I have witnessed improved social interaction from students who demonstrated on this excursion their ability to interact with students from other schools.’

Photos from the kitchen garden bus tour can be found in our media gallery

More information about kitchen gardens in schools can be found by following this link http://kitchengardensinschools.blogspot.com/

Nagle College and St Michael's student reps showed the St John's students around Nano Cottage

The bus tour stopped at St Francis of Assisi Primary, St Patrick’s Primary, Blacktown; St Michael’s Primary, Blacktown South and St Andrew’s Primary

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