Our local black cockatoos are soon to have a place to escape the summer heat thanks to the fundraising and passion of our Year 1s!
The presentation of a cheque for $1065.90 was the culmination of many months of research by Year 1E about the red-tailed cockatoo, and the issues which threaten their existence.
The children were inspired to focus their investigation on these birds because they had seen them on the local oval and in the school grounds during Bush School.
From this inspiration they embarked upon a fully-integrated, cross-curricular program where they became community scientists, gathering data and formulating new research questions during their weekly bird walks.
They even put their persuasive writing skills into practice by writing to a local councillor to get support for their cause.
Through their research, our students discovered that heat stress and lack of water are significant threats to the well-being of the local birds including their beloved red-tailed cockatoos.
So, they decided to organise a “Cockie Fest” to help raise funds to purchase a WA designed and manufactured “cockitrough” which has several shallow water drinking platforms, is self-flushing to keep water clean, and high off the ground to protect birds from cats and dogs.
Under the guidance of their teacher, Mrs Andraea Egan (pictured below right), our determined Year 1E students then set about creating a range of fundraising items including cockatoo paintings and key rings made from fallen nuts which are the favourites of the cockies.
“There was a lot of teamwork involved in preparing for Cockie Fest, with students teaching each other how to make our fundraising items and getting ready for our big day,” said Andraea.
You can imagine how happy they all were when they easily met their fundraising target of $1000, which along with some additional community donations will enable the cockitrough to be built in the new year.
“I am so proud of our students and the way they have dedicated themselves to their own learning and taken practical action to address an issue that they care so much about,” said Andraea.
“Not only have they acquired important skills they will take into their future schooling, they have also built an emotional connection to our beautiful local environment which will guide the way they live their lives for many years to come.”
Stay tuned for updates on the installation of the cockitrough.