Mr Kyle Thompson | Principal

I have spent a bit of time recently learning about regenerative agriculture. This has resonated with me in regard to the similarities in starting a new year at SCOTS PGC; fitting I think based on our setting and our demographic.

So how is this so? Both involve growth, learning, and progress, and both require a supportive environment, diverse experiences, and the right resources. Both are about building tenacity, fostering self-sufficiency, and creating a sustainable future.

Just like regenerative agriculture, the start of a new school year is an opportunity to rebuild and revitalise. Just as regenerative agriculture focuses on rebuilding the health and fertility of the soil, the start of a new school year focuses on rebuilding the health and vitality of our students’ minds.

One of the key principles of regenerative agriculture is the use of cover crops. Cover crops are planted in between cash crops to provide a protective layer over the soil, preventing erosion and promoting healthy microorganisms. This is similar to the way that students are provided with a safe and nurturing environment at SCOTS PGC, where they can learn and grow. Cover crops provide the soil with the necessary nutrients and microorganisms that it needs to rejuvenate, just as a supportive learning environment provides students with the resources they need to excel.

Another important aspect of regenerative agriculture is crop rotation. This involves switching up the types of crops that are grown in a given field each year. This practice helps to prevent pests and diseases from becoming too prevalent in a specific crop, and also helps to replenish the soil with different nutrients. This is similar to how students are exposed to a variety of subjects and experiences in school, which allows them to explore different interests and skills. Crop rotation provides the soil with the necessary diversity to thrive, just as a well-rounded education at SCOTS provides students with the opportunity to discover their passions and talents.

In addition to these practices, regenerative agriculture also emphasises the use of compost and other organic materials to enrich the soil. This is similar to how students are provided with the necessary resources in school, such as textbooks and technology, which help them to learn and grow. Compost and other organic materials provide the soil with the necessary nutrients and microorganisms that it needs to rejuvenate, just as resources provided to students help them to achieve their best.

Just as regenerative agriculture creates a self-sustaining system where the soil is able to regenerate itself over time, a SCOTS PGC education system encourages students to become self-sufficient learners, who are able to take responsibility for their own progress. A self-sustaining system provides the soil with the necessary resilience to thrive, just as self-sufficient learners are able to adapt and grow in any situation.

In regenerative agriculture, farmers work to create a healthier and more productive food system. In the same way, our school works to create a brighter future for our students. By embracing the regenerative approach, farmers can create a sustainable food system that benefits the environment and the economy, just as SCOTS strives to create a sustainable education system that benefits our students and the community.

An holistic approach in agriculture is not just about growing crops, but it’s about creating a whole ecosystem. In the same way, starting a new school year is not just about learning subjects, but it’s about creating a whole community. In a regenerative farm, farmers work together to create a sustainable ecosystem, in the same way, at SCOTS, teachers, students, and families work together to create a sustainable community.

So welcome to the 2023 school year as we work together to develop the learning and growth of our students utilising all we have at SCOTS PGC  – great staff, great families and great kids – surely the right mix to ensure a bumper crop of young people for the community and the future.