Slowing down for the Swifties

With a generous donation from NRM South, who are excited that the next generation are learning about our endangered species, the school was able to employ local artist Nicole Adams to cleverly weld up a frame for a giant swift parrot.  During weekly gardening lessons the children from all grades spend time weaving colourful feathers made from recycled fabric onto the bird.  Parents also have the chance to take part during Launching into Learning sessions and special events in the garden, making this a real community project. 

With shared purpose and a task that requires considerable concentration for little hands, which are still learning the art of fine-motor-skills, the project has turned into much more than a creative celebration of a critically endangered species.  

Conversations flow freely as the hands and eyes are busy, and there’s a calmness that overtakes even the busiest of kids. It is a project that requires patience and persistence and may take the rest of the year to complete, but that in itself is a powerful lesson in this world of instant gratification.