Blue Gum Community School

Muted footsteps made their way down the stone staircase. Sunlight glistened through the gaps in towering tree ferns, and bird calls echoed all around. A boardwalk beckoned us onwards, leading through peeling clouds of mist and into the heart of the rainforest. The air was warm and humid, carrying the earthy scent of damp leaves and soil, while tiny droplets clung to leaves and sparkled in the light. Riverbark (yr 4/5) student take their research into ‘what makes something tropical?’ Out into the community.

Our preschool students have been drawn to our everyday Country trees that we are surrounded by AND the stories they tell...have you ever meet a ‘Honey Tree’? Why has it been called a Honey Tree? And what stories does such a tree have to tell? How does a tree communicate with us and how do we communicate back? Being in community on Ngunnawal Country is embraced at Blue Gum in our everyday pedagogy - who we are as individuals and as individuals in community can not be fully understood unless we spend time on Country...how are you connecting to Country today?
What stories is Country sharing with you and you with Country?

It’s that time of year again - preschool are embarking on their Community Classroom ventures AND GUESS WHAT? This year we are researching at “The Galleries” together - think NGA, NPG and all the sculptures in between!!

Yesterday saw 40 preschools and 8 educators embarking on our “taster”, meeting our places of research and unpacking initial wonderings…

Wondering Walls will now be established with students back at preschool as discussion and debate begins around our first visit and the many many many more visits/questions/research AND ACTION to come…

Ironbark (2/3) students are making the most of the classroom that surrounds us. Getting out and about on a weekly basis to research the spaces in our community. /3

Our High School students are currently in the throws and negotiations of EarthCraft a strategy simulation game that is all encompassing as it tries to solve the big issues of the world … such rich discussions are being heard at the table.

Ziggy, Blue Gum’s Wellbeing Dog, using the new big window to watch the community he loves walk by at pickup. .connect

With the new building spaces come new gardens to plant and nurture. Gardens provide an amazing opportunity to build community together. Here our founder Maureen Hartung OAM works with student across the primary school to plant out the new spaces, creating beauty for generations to come.

Blue Gum is researching the medium of Podcasting for documentation… lots of learning to come as we become proficient in this new (to us) craft… stay tuned to hear what’s coming!!!

Sneak Peak…. Tomorrow nights big end of year concert is going to be great! It always feels so special to be performing on stage under lights…. We can’t wait to share it with you!!

Tonight our beautiful group of Year 10 students graduated and had their formal. It was a special night for a special group of humans. So connected with each other and their community. They will be missed as we wish them well in their forward adventures!