EduExcellence Noordhoek is very proud of the new developments that we have put in place in 2021. One of the newest initiatives is creating a biodynamic experience for our learners.
Biodynamics is a holistic, ecological, and ethical approach to farming, gardening, food, and nutrition. This aligns well with our philosophies at EduExcellence.
With all of the technological advancements that we are seeing in the 21st century, children often have less access to nature and to animals. Interactions between animals and children have shown, through extensive research, to benefit both parties (as is the case when children interact with nature).
Cultivating biodiversity
On our campus we have egg-laying chickens, goats, and a vegetable garden. When we first received our chicks, all learners on campus helped to rear them by hand.
Our chickens have just started laying eggs, and the learners are involved with the collection of the eggs. These will be used in our school kitchen to feed all learners and staff. We are working towards the chickens having their own chicks so that the learners can be part of the full life cycle of a hen.
All of the hay and waste from the chickens and goats is placed in our compost heap. This compost is then used to fertilize our vegetable garden.
From farm to fork
When gardening, learners are not only rooted in nature but also interacting with the smaller insects and biomes that are connected to gardens.
We spend a lot of time working on our garden; making sure that the soil is nutrient rich so when we do harvest our vegetables, to use in the school kitchen, we are able to leave the soil in a better condition than before we started gardening.
Having the children involved in gardening also brings with it a connection to the seasons; seasonal fruits and vegetables, fruits and herbs. Being involved in this process and having the knowledge of how the food got onto their plates greatly assists in learners making healthier choices. This also encourages those that have food sensitivities to expand their diets.
EduExcellence Noordhoek Campus
At our private school in Noordhoek we have a combination of remedial and skills learners. All learners have been part of this process, but our skills learners have more hands-on experience around handling and caring for animals, farming, and assisting to prepare meals in the kitchen. This assists in developing their life skills as well as learning portfolios.
Please get in touch with our principal to arrange a tour of the EduExcellence Noordhoek Campus!
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