Gonville School
School Gardening Partnership 2025
“We took part in the 2023 vegetable challenge. The students loved this new learning experience. They continue to ask when we are doing it again. This new opportunity will be great for us. We have grown kūmara for puanga and would love to expand.”
Johanna Nyenhuis, Gonville School Partnership Coordinator
May/June Update – Growing Native Plants
This term the students have been looking at birds and insects and the importance of them in our environment. In regards with the role they play in pollination and seed germination. We supplied them with an insect house and hope to develop ongoing work with the students to make their own. I took some seed-raising mix out and we planted some native seeds, guiding them on how to care and nurture them to grow. The kids were very fascinated to learn what the seeds looked like and how they grew. – Brydie, SGC Partnership Coordinator
- Brydie talked about the importance of insects/bugs. Talked about why pollination was important and if we didn’t have insects we wouldn’t have vegetables and fruits.
- We had a go at planting seeds. Kowhai, flax, manuka and kakabeak. All had a go at planting. All seeds were different. Had a chat about which seeds would germinate first. We don’t think manuka will do well (the seeds looked like hair).
- We planted native seeds because Tui love the nectar and we have a lot of Tui at school.
- Brydie gave us a bug house to put somewhere at school. It is great at helping to identify and classify bugs and provides a safe environment for them. The students loved hearing all of this from Brydie and really want to make their own Bug Hotels.
Johanna Nyenhuis, Gonville School Partnership Coordinator
School Vege Challenge 2023
Harvest Time & Judging
Mid Challenge Update
Gonville School is new to the Vege Challenge this year but is coming through strong. The gardens have been set up in a great location. There has been fantastic participation, with the inclusion of additional gardens for students with different support needs to get involved. They’ve been really enjoying it! An area indoors has been set up for trays of seeds, with a pinboard to display everything they’re growing in the gardens.
As is the case with several of the other participating schools, weeds have been a challenge. Mulching has been encouraged as a next step.
Getting Going
Gonville School has an amazing space just ready for a vegetable garden which we are lacking. We are surrounded by beautiful native trees and these gardens will enhance learning opportunities for our tamariki. Our students thrive in the outdoors and this is the perfect setting for inquiry learning to help our tamariki and community grow.
The vegetable gardens are going really well and growing fast. The students love seeing the progress and have taken ownership of their plants which is great to see. I take all classes throughout the school in groups, so all students get a chance to delve into gardening and learning.
