Reconciliation Week 2025: Bridging now to next. Stay tuned for lots of learning and a call out for assistance. Join us for our Reconciliation Walk on Friday 30th May at 10am. We need helpers, photographers, filmakers, friends and family to walk with us!

Veggie garden upgrade

Huge thanks to Mt Alexander Shire Council who contributed $3000 towards this project. 

This has been a major project for a small school on a very modest budget.  It included 4 working bees to demolish the previous garden and build the new garden of 11 new garden beds, including a bushfood garden. Parents who participated in the working bees were excited to learn how to build functional wicking beds. There is a palpable level of excitement amongst the students, parents and staff about the new garden which creates so much learning potential.

Teachers have expressed their appreciation for the garden and sustainability classes which take learning from the classroom into the real world, increasing the authenticity of learning, especially with topics such as understanding the water cycle, soil health, the growth of plants or the changing of the seasons and most importantly, our connection to the local Dja Dja Wurrung. As part of this and other grants, we have visited Murnong Mummas https://www.murnongmummas.com.au/  where children learnt about bushfoods, cooked a delicious edible snack and learnt about propagating a number of edible plants. This focus on bushfoods will continue into Term 2 with more propagation activities and integration into Chewton's Reconciliation Walk.

There is a noticeable calming and regulating effect of physical work such as digging or moving soil in wheelbarrows for many children, which leads to more positive emotion.

For all children, the garden creates the opportunity for increased connection with home through discussions about food preferences/dislikes and family members/neighbours who grow and share food.

Consequently, we feel a huge sense of achievement.

This project has been a huge success on many levels. Parents and the local community feel a strong sense of achievement and ownership of the garden.

Teachers notice that children are being more adventurous when tasting and eating new food.

The garden is in its early stage but already we are experiencing the benefits of ease of maintenance, and the new plants are flourishing.

For many children, there is a noticeable calming effect associated with physical work in the garden. This allows for increased focus and curiosity about food and the external natural world.

Thanks Serena for all your amazing efforts.  If you haven't seen our special newsletter edition celebrating Serena's work, you can find it here.

Thanks Justin for the pictures!

ANZAC Day

Our students wrote a range of poetry and reflective pieces to commemorate ANZAC day this year. We held a ceremony at Memorial Park in Chewton on Thursday and some students shared their poetry. Our school captains Athena and Edan placed the wreath by the flagpole in readiness for the service on Friday. We hung our writing on the fence for you to look at together. We hope you can find some time over the next week to look at the amazing reflections. 

ANZAC day ceremonies mark the landing at Gallipoli in World War 1 and also  now honour all who have fought and died in wars and peace keeping missions, including the Frontier Wars.

Thanks to James and Tilly and families for representing our school at the Chewton service on Friday morning. James read his poem, Bernadette read Miro's poem and James and Tilly placed flowers under the flagpole. 

 First Peoples connections and information

Community Notices

TERM TWO 2025

0-11 YEARS PARENT SUPPORT AND EDUCATION SESSIONS

The Loddon Children’s Health & Wellbeing Local will be offering weekly education sessions related to mental health and wellbeing for parents of children 0-11. These are available in person. The session is run by a lived experience parent and mental health clinician.

Sessions are open to any family with children 0-11.

Why join in?

·   Meet and mix with other parents.

·   Talk to mental health staff about your child.

·   Ask any practical questions you have about parenting at the moment.

·   Gain support for yourself as a parent.

Where: Activity Room 2, Downstairs, Bendigo Library, Hargreaves St,

BENDIGO 3550 Note the *dates are in an upstairs room at the library. Use the lift to find us.

Dates and topics:  Thursdays

*Apr 24th     1pm face to face       Sleep issues

May 1st        1pm face to face       Stop the tech

*May 8th      1pm face to face       ADHD What is it and how can I help?

*May 15th     1pm face to face       Managing big feelings

May 22nd     1pm face to face       Parent wellbeing

May 29th       1pm face to face       Anger in kids

Jun 5th          1pm face to face       Anxiety in kids

Jun 12th      1pm face to face       What is autism and how can I help? Presented by Daniel

*Jun 19th     1pm face to face       Setting limits and family rules 

Jun 26th      1pm face to face       Building social skills

If you have any questions, please contact Annette Clemments on 1800 433 977.

Book in here: using the QR code or email icfhwlocals@bchs.com.au