Some of our year 5 Science Inquiry students spent Friday morning with Cath Cooper from Urban Bushland Council WA, learning about the different species of native plants that are growing right here in the St Emilie’s Bushland! Students were highly motivated and followed Cath’s lead as we toured our bushland, recording important details about the species we found along the way. The students will be using their findings to create an ‘eco-gram’. This eco-gram will feature in the presentation to parents later on this term. Cath is a highly valued ‘resource’ in our school, and she is teaching us all much about the importance of conserving our bushland and helping us to learn more about our local flora and fauna. Cath will be visiting on several occasions this semester to work with the year 5 science inquiry group and we feel very lucky indeed!

The Banksia is Cath’s most favourite plant. Can you work out who named the plant ‘Banksia’? (It has something to do with one of our early explorers to Australia!)

Above: We really love the enthusiasm of this little group – passionately taking in everything Cath has to share!
While we were talking about the bushland one of the parents in PP observed an owl in our bushland. Yes – an OWL!! Both Mr Cogger and I have spotted the owl in the trees this week. This is very exciting news as it shows that the health of the bushland is improving, enough to encourage native fauna to return. I’ve done some research on the internet about common owls in the south west of WA and we think our owl is a Southern Boobook Owl.
Stay tuned for more info on our Wise Eyed Owl!
And finally let’s remember….
“It’s not what the world holds for you. It’s what you bring to the world”.
Mrs Cogger