Summer crop

 Year K/1S planting beans

 Burst of flavour from the native finger limes in the bushtucker garden

The fig tree recovered remarkably well after an attack of scale insects last year

Year 1/2S used up the last of the spinach, parsley & spring onions for a spinach dip. The garden beds will be replanted with winter veg in a couple of weeks.

Newsletter Term 1, Week 4

Chooks
Over the holidays our little baby chicks raised by 4A 2015 grew into big chooks. A big thank you to the families who looked after them. All in all we ended up with 9 chooks. Unfortunately, 4 of them were roosters and have been returned to the farm so as to save our neighbours. We now have 5 beautiful remaining girls; Dusty, Spot, Ginger, Snowy and Mohawk Millie. Feel free to drop by the pen and say hello. They love a pat! Our girls love to have weekend visitors and spend time in their yard on the weekends. If you are able to visit the school twice a day on the weekend, once per term, please contact Briony Scanlan so you can be added to the Chook Minding roster.

Mini Working Bees
Our gardens are looking fabulous after a fantastic clean up last Friday. Each month on the second Friday happy volunteers meet in the garden from 2:30pm to do some general maintenance and tidying in the gardens. If you are able to turn up early please come along and help out.

Meetings
The Eco Garden Committee is comprised of teachers and parents, as well as a student committee. The adults meet monthly, on the third Wednesday to discuss finances; purchase of animal feeds and plants, organise cooking days for the students and when needed help out in the gardens. If this sounds interesting to you or you would like to find out more please contact Rhonda French. Our next meeting is Wednesday 17th February at 7pm in K/1S classroom (next to the Canteen). Feel free to drop in and join the team.

Getting Involved
The Eco Garden is a central part of our school and a whole community venture. If you are interested in helping with cooking, attending meetings or just being kept up to date with events please contact Rhonda French or Briony Scanlan.

Recipe: Spinach Parcels (Year 4 & 5)

250g fresh spinach, finely chopped

1 cup cottage cheese

1/3 cup parmesan cheese

2 green onions or chives, thinly sliced
2 tablespoons chopped parsley leaves
2 teaspoons Worcestershire sauce

1 tsp dried onion flakes

1 tsp garlic powder

2 sheets shortcrust pastry

Steam the spinach until wilted. Add all ingredients together and mix well. Cut the shortcrust pastry sheet into four squares. Add a tablespoon of spinach mix into one corner and fold the others side over. Make a triangle and press the sides firmly down. Add the parcels into an electric pizza oven or conventional oven for 6-10 minutes until pastry is cooked through and brown. 

Enjoy!

 

 Even though it had spinach in it - the pastries were enjoyed by all!

Recipe: Spinach Dip (with Year 3)

Spinach Dip

250g fresh spinach, finely chopped

1 cup sour cream

1/2 cup mayonnaise

2 green onions (shallots), thinly sliced
1 garlic clove, crushed
2 tablespoons chopped parsley leaves
1 tablespoon lemon juice
2 teaspoons Worcestershire sauce

1 tsp dried onion flakes

1 tsp onion powder

Steam the spinach until wilted. Add all ingredients together and mix well.

Newsletter Term 4 Week 4

Chooks
It is with great excitement that we announce the arrival of three baby chicks! We put eggs into an incubator during the holidays and had our first attempt at raising chicks. The three babies are growing fast under the heat lamp in 4A. While they have names for identification we will save naming them until we know if they are boys or girls. There have been many predictions but we are waiting for certainty! They are being handled and happily have visitors so feel free to drop in : )

Local Heroes
It was wonderful to see the hard work of parents and students recognised in the Hornsby Council’s Local Heroes article. If you didn’t get to read it please visit the Hornsby Shire Council Facebook Page.

Fence
Work has been continuing on the painting of the new garden fence. Students have been busy drawing their designs. I tis estimated we will need about 70 posts and so far 30 have been painted. They are looking amazing and it will be great to see it all finished!


Meeting
Eco Garden Meetings are held each month on the third Wednesday of the month at 7pm in Miss Scanlon’s classroom, during term times. The next meeting will be held on the 18th November in 5X Classroom. Feel free to come along and hear what it is all about!

Being involved
The Eco Garden is a large part of the school at Hornsby Heights PS and involves many facets and people. There is gardening, animal minding, cooking, cake stalls and BBQs, building of infrastructure and lesson support. If you feel this is something you may be interested in or would like to find out more please come along to a meeting or email Rhonda French frenchjr@bigpond.net.au Many hands make light work.

Spring Photos

our multicoloured carrot harvest

broadbeans

Recipe: Herb pizzas with the Kindy classes

Ingredients

• small pita pockets
• herbs freshly picked from the garden (Rosemary, Oreganum, Basil, Thyme, Parsley) 
• freshly podded peas if desired
• pizza tomato sauce
• grated mozarella cheese

Directions

1.  wash herbs and pick the leaves off by hand
2. spread some pizza sauce onto the pita pocket
3. add your favourite herbs
4. sprinkle some mozarella cheese
5. bake in pizza oven or normal oven until cheese is melted
6. ENJOY!