Our Kitchen Garden has been a hive of curiosity, creativity and wonder this year as our Year 2 students explored God’s creation with both their hands and their minds. One of the highlights has been watching students code their own digital games. As they wrestled with sequencing, problem-solving and design choices, we discussed how coding helped us better appreciate the incredible “code of life” God placed within every living thing. Seeds are fully coded with the entire information for a tree, right down to size, colour and taste of fruit. Amazing!

In the garden itself, students learned about the parts of plants we can eat—roots, stems, leaves, flowers, fruits and seeds, and used microscopes to look closely at textures, patterns and structures that often go unnoticed. Through Visible Thinking routines such as See, Think, Wonder and Zoom In, students learned to slow down, observe carefully and ask thoughtful questions. These routines also helped develop important personal and social capabilities such as teamwork, listening to others’ ideas and sharing conclusions respectfully.

Our lunchtime Garden Groups were equally busy! Students planted seeds, cared for seedlings and proudly harvested tomatoes, which could be the base for our very own pizza sauce. Excitement grew even further with the arrival of our new pizza oven, which will be fully operational for 2026. We extend a heartfelt thank you to our P and F for funding this wonderful addition.

These groups also spent time exploring insects and discovering the vital role pollinators play in keeping God’s creation thriving.

As we finish the year, we give thanks for the learning, friendships and growth that have flourished in the Kitchen Garden. May the joy and hope of Christmas fill your homes, and may God bless your families with rest and peace over the holidays.

Jamie Simmonds, STEM & Kitchen Garden Teacher