Eton Farm school calls children in from near and far and they arrive with a passion to learn.   They come as 6 year olds to 11 year olds happy in comfortable clothes, Eton Farm SunSmart hats or coats and rubber boots for rain and puddle play.

The entrance gate swings open and in run the children.   Quickly putting away their bag and lunch then off to play. Climbing logs, racing bikes around the track, feeding chooks, watering gardens, and socialising with friends.    They relish this time and we know this is an important step in the transition from home to school each day.

The sound of the ukulele stops them. They hear the song: ‘Come on everyone, come on everyone, come on everyone let’s start the day!’ Excitedly joining each other in our breezy, garden side, outdoor classroom with a wonderful background view of the hills of the Darling Scarp. They settle in and it’s time to sing our welcome song.  Lately, they have been learning a song in the local Noongar language of the Gnaala Karla Booja people who are the traditional owners of the land upon which our school stands.

Wanjoo, Wanjoo,                                            Welcome, welcome

Kwobidak koorda                                            Beautiful friends

Wanjoo, Wanjoo                                             Welcome, welcome

Moorditj koorda.                                             Strong (solid) friends

An excerpt of Wanjoo was written by Gina Williams a local Noongar person.

In the garden we sometimes dance and move freely, with partners or on our own. Dancing and prancing in circle formation just like circus horses, the outside horses running faster than the rest.   Sometimes we stay in a circle, sometimes we don’t.

The children are now ready to start their day of formal learning . They walk to their classrooms, meeting teachers and finding out what the day ahead will bring.

Core learning areas of English and Maths are taught in the morning when the children are in their optimum learning phase.  Teachers use the natural environment to engage in authentic learning for a particular concept or engage the students in hands-on activities and games that support the consolidation of previously learnt knowledge or skills. Under shady trees they practice their reading and comprehension or go on hunts around the school collecting items to divide into groups, fractions or use as measuring tools.

Science, HASS, Health and Physical Education are also core subjects in which the students formally engage in weekly and these sessions although aligned to the Western Australia Curriculum are often developed through student interest and by taking into account their existing knowledge & skills.

Our Primary students learn Noongar Language & Culture with Trish. As Indigenous languages are traditionally oral the students learn through oral interactions, art, singing and storytelling.

Art encourages exploration through explosions of colours and plenty of mess as they engage in a world of discovery and creativity while looking at, learning about, discussing, and creating using a variety of art resources and techniques.  Classroom teachers also teach through art with the children recently creating a sculpture of the Darling Scarp as a way of learning about their local world.

More music and movement engagement occurs throughout the day.  Imitating, Exploring and Improvising as they make music and move together creating and maintaining a strong bond with the land and the farm environment.

As the day draws to a close there are jobs to be done.   Packing away the trucks in the sandpit, feeding the chickens and taking down the Australian and Indigenous flags. The parents arrive and the school day is over. Another day of excitement and exploration at our wonderful farm school awaits them tomorrow.