Every August the year 8’s leave us to allow the year 7’s their chance in the gardens. This means the year 8’s give up their gardens and pass them on to the year 7’s, which is always little bit hard for them. However usually they give them up to tamariki in their own classes, so this has become almost a rite of passage in some classes which is quite lovely. For Whaea Clare this time of the year means saying goodbye to some tamariki that she has taught since they were at primary school, so there are often a few tears shed. We’re so lucky Ms Barr is there for a cuddle as we all need it.

But back to the gardens. This August was very exciting as Good Neighbour donated three more wicking beds to us – over $1,200 worth of bins! We were so happy as we’d been running out of room. These bins will have many uses, one will be Ms Barr’s kitchen garden and another will be a combined butterfly, wildflower and teaching garden. Thanks so much, Good Neighbour, we really appreciate it!

The new soil was so beautiful that the year 7’s wanted some of it in the existing gardens, so we got busy topping them up with what we had left over. Unfortunately just as we were getting into the swing of things we went back into lockdown and we unable to finish off our work. During lockdown Whaea Clare set everyone weekly activities to do at home, which we did our best to fit in around our other school work.