The Noongar Seasons have always been a part of Aboriginal life, with the six Noongar Seasons representing a predictable timetable of foreseeable events. This project works to provide students to the opportunity to increase understanding and knowledge about the six seasons by promoting discussions and learning opportunities. Students will be able to deepen their understanding by exploring First Nations weather knowledge of how the seasons do not just link with the months, however the seasons link with knowledge of the weather, animals and plants changes and observing these changes.

Students in Room 5 and our Karrtdijin Bidi Year 5 and 6 students, worked alongside Mr Jeffels, Mr Lawrence and Miss Beynon to create our new Six Season Garden. The garden is located along the walkway from our Admin building leading to the main school. Keep an eye out as we continue to create this Noongar Boodja Six Seasons Garden.

Students got their hands dirty by pulling up the grass and painting the totem poles to represent each season. Each pole is designed to have the colour that represents that season and have a banner on top which is the colour of the next season to show how each season is linked together. They also have symbols designed by Mr Lawrence and painted by Mr Lawrence and our Karrtdijin Bidi Year 5 and 6 students which depicts animals and plants from each of the seasons. The design of the garden shows the non-liner nature of the six seasons with the flowing nature of the edging. No garden is complete without plants. Next term, students will be planting traditional plants throughout the garden.

Calista Primary is one of 1,041 primary schools and early learning centres across Australia to receive a Woolworths Junior Landcare grant to help grow our next generations of environmental champions.

A massive thank you to Woolworths and Landcare for making this project possible and to Mr Jeffels and Mr Lawrence for their support and hard work.