Wanjoo to Summer. The Noongar Season ‘Birak’ is represented by the colour red as it symbolises heat, sun and fire.

During Birak season the rain eases and the warm weather really starts to take hold. The afternoons are cooled by the sea breezes from the south west.

Traditionally this was the fire season. An almost clockwork style of easterly winds in the morning and sea breezes in the afternoon meant that this was burning time of the year for Noongar people and they would burn the country in mosaic patterns.

There are several reasons for this, including fuel reduction, increasing the grazing pastures for animals, to aid seed germination and to make it easier to move across the country.

There are many fledglings venturing out of nests in Birak, though some are still staying close to their parents such as magpies and parrots. Reptiles will also be shedding their old skin for a new one.

With the rising temperatures and the decreasing rainfall, it's also a time for the baby frogs to complete their transformation into adulthood.

Garden Club

We have had a great year in our after school garden club. Thank you to all those who attended including students, parents, grandparents and our wonderful staff helpers. You have all been dedicated, hardworking and joyful about the wonders of vegetable gardening, worm farming and composting. Check out the photos.

Recycling and Reuse Hub

Our recycling bins have arrived and will be formally launched after the signs have been made. This initiative is such an important one in Sustainable practices as it highlights to our students just how much we need to RETHINK what we buy and use. Could you use a refillable coffee pod instead of the thousands that we send to be recycled each term? This year we have sent  18 284 items to be recycled. Can you imagine what our schools are possible of doing when our new system rolls out. Our partner in this mission is Terracycle Australia.  In some of our sustainability classes we have reused the thousands of coffee pods into Christmas Wreaths and are well on our way to finishing our bottle top mural, called Plastic Free in the Sea.

Finally, an enormous thankyou to all those wonderful students, staff and parents who have supported Sustainability, it’s vision for the future and myself this year. It has been humbling and rewarding learning and sharing together to make a difference to our Earth and everything that relies on it. YOU ARE THE FUTURE!

Happy gardening and sustainable thinking,

Sandra Bennett – Science/Sustainability Teacher (JESC). Sustainability Coordinator (Joondalup Schools)