It's a case of put down the laptops and grab a shovel at Spring Hill Public School with an ambitious plan to create a sensory garden in the playground that will combine the efforts of students, teachers, parents, a university, the community and business.
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Principal Ann Marie McAnulty said work started this week on the extensive garden that features a 44-metre rainbow serpent as its centrepiece.
Wednesdays are now gardening days for the school's 44 students.
Mrs McAnulty said they were relishing the chance to get their hands dirty outside.
"I've never seen kids work so hard and now it's a focus every Wednesday," she said.
"I'd never envisaged there would be so many positive outcomes."
Mrs McAnulty said the school wanted students to enjoy outdoor activities.
"We have the most beautiful garden. We want to encourage children to be outside and in the playground," she said.
Mrs McAnulty said the students had researched different types of gardens.
They had also been visited by Millthorpe Garden Nursery owner Ian Rogan who had explained the different types of plants, including those which are edible and those to avoid touching.
I've never seen kids work so hard.
- Ann Marie McAnulty, Spring Hill Public School principal
She said Bunnings and ANL in Orange had provided materials to get the project under way.
Mrs McAnulty said the project would involve creating five gardens.
"Each of the zones relates to a different sense," she said.
VIDEO: Building a school garden
Mrs McAnulty said one would involve the construction of a dinosaur garden with a volcano mural, smooth rocks and a small creek.
Another would involve tasting plants.
She said the project had been created after a teacher development program with Sydney University on project-based learning.
Mrs McAnulty said teachers had used the university's STEM [Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics] Teacher Enrichment Academy program.
She said the school had taken it a step further by adding arts to create a STEAM program.
The university's program was set up in 2014 with focus on students in years 3-6.
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David Fitzsimons
I am a senior journalist at the Central Western Daily concentrating on council, government and real estate issues. Before moving to Orange I filled senior roles at the Daily Telegraph, Daily Telegraph-Mirror and the Daily Mirror in Sydney. They included being an editor, news editor, chief of staff and reporter.
I am a senior journalist at the Central Western Daily concentrating on council, government and real estate issues. Before moving to Orange I filled senior roles at the Daily Telegraph, Daily Telegraph-Mirror and the Daily Mirror in Sydney. They included being an editor, news editor, chief of staff and reporter.
