Jack Koa
Birthday: December 11, 2024
Jack Koa loves running, jumping, playing and keeping up with all his student friends. When he’s not busy playing, you can usually find him enjoying a belly rub or hoping someone has a tasty snack to share.
Nature-Inspired
Meet our animals
36 animals, 17 of them heritage breeds, each with a name, a story and students who care for them.
Where compassion, conservation and discovery come to life
Animals are an integral part of our campus community and of how we learn, grow and connect with the natural world. The Nature Program is home to heritage breed chickens, ducks and goats, as well as rabbits, guinea pigs, reptiles, amphibians and our beloved school dog. Each animal brings its own needs and story, inspiring curiosity, nurturing compassion and creating hands-on learning.
We are especially proud to care for heritage breeds. Before industrial agriculture, these breeds were valued for natural foraging, longevity, strong maternal instincts and adaptability, and many are now rare. Caring for them helps students understand genetic diversity, honour our agricultural heritage and protect living connections to the past.
Through daily care, observation and meaningful interactions, students learn about animal behaviour, biology, habitats and welfare, and the responsibility of caring for another living being. Our animals are more than classroom companions: they are living teachers.
Our school dog
The Chicken Coop and the Hen House, in the Hill of Happies
Chickens
Flitter
Birthday: October 9, 2018
The Proud Protector! Roosters keep watch for danger and give special calls to alert the hens when they find food or see danger nearby.
Pip
Birthday: November 26, 2018
Silkies are an ancient ornamental breed from Asia. Roosters like Pip crow to communicate, establish their presence and respond to sounds around them, and they don’t always wait until sunrise!
Blackbeak
Birthday: October 2, 2020
The Fluff Ball! Fluffy under-feathers keep chickens insulated and help them regulate their body temperature. Blackbeak even has fluffy feathers on her cheeks!
Nugget
Birthday: October 2, 2020
The Egg Artist! Shell colour is largely set by genetics. As a Black Copper Maran, Nugget lays very dark, chocolate-brown eggs.
Popcorn
Birthday: October 14, 2020
The High-Rise Resident! Chickens like to perch off the ground when they rest, so a safe roost gives them a place to settle down at night.
Pumpkin
Birthday: October 14, 2020
The Nesting Nester! Hens like Pumpkin look for a cozy, sheltered place to lay. A nest box lets her practise this natural behaviour.
Gremlin
Birthday: November 10, 2020
The Spa Queen! Dirt baths keep feathers in good condition and help manage parasites. Gremlin loves to roll around near her garden in the Hill of Happies.
June
Birthday: November 10, 2020
The Snack Enthusiast! Chickens are omnivores that eat seeds, greens and insects. If you have treats, June will be the first one to greet you!
Peep
Birthday: April 11, 2022
The Sun Seeker! Peep loves exploring the school gardens around the coops, where she can scratch, forage and stretch her wings.
Summer
Birthday: April 11, 2022
The Backyard Detective! Summer uses her feet and beak to uncover seeds, insects and other treats in the ground.
Pixie
Birthday: April 11, 2022
The Curious Talker! Chickens use different calls, from warnings to food calls and contented clucks. The coop gets chatty, especially when Pixie lays an egg!
Cocoa
Birthday: April 11, 2022
The Nature Teacher! From feathers and beaks to egg development and digestion, Cocoa helps students discover how animals are adapted to their environments.
Bom Bom
Birthday: May 8, 2026
The Social Butterfly! Chickens form a flock hierarchy, the pecking order. Bom Bom likes long walks with her chicken friends and greeting her human friends along the garden paths.
Toto
Birthday: May 9, 2026
The Fashionista! Each breed has its own colours, combs and feather patterns. Check out the barred black-and-white feathers that make Toto so special.
The Duck House
Ducks
Soda
Birthday: April 14, 2025
The Little Speedster! Indian Runners stand tall and walk almost upright, so they always look like they’re hurrying off to their next adventure.
Percy
Birthday: April 14, 2025
The Egg-cellent Hen! Indian Runner ducks are productive layers, and their eggs range from white to pale green or blue.
Lucky
Birthday: April 14, 2025
The Social Butterfly! Ducks enjoy the company of other ducks, so flock time matters. Lucky is named after “Lucky Scramble” by our resident author and teacher, Peter Raymundo.
Seymour
Birthday: April 14, 2025
The Water Lover! Ducks need water deep enough to dip their bills and rinse their eyes and nostrils. It keeps their bills clean and healthy.
Mango
Birthday: April 17, 2026
The Curious Explorer! Indian Runners are active foragers, so every day is a chance for Mango to investigate something new.
Moby
Birthday: April 17, 2026
The Treasure Hunter! Moby forages for insects, snails and seeds with her bill. She is named after “Moby Duck” by our resident author and teacher, Peter Raymundo.
The Goat Yard
Goats
Sadie
Birthday: December 26, 2018
Is there a leaf to investigate? Count me in! Nigerian Dwarf goats are browsers that love nibbling leaves and shrubs. Sadie was donated to our Nature Program by the Hoskin family farm.
Maisy
Birthday: August 3, 2019
Small but mighty! Maisy loves to explore, climb on safe surfaces and investigate anything that catches her eye. She also came to us from the Hoskin family farm.
Classroom habitats
Rabbits
Honeybucket
Birthday: January 1, 2023
The Curious Adventurer! This energetic explorer is always ready to see what’s around the next corner. His velvety coat is famous, but his go-getter personality really stands out.
Theodore
Birthday: February 8, 2024
The Laid-Back Lovebug! Theodore takes life at his own pace, a floppy-eared reminder to slow down, relax and smell the clover.
Classroom habitat
Guinea pigs
Zoey
Birthday: November 5, 2022
The Cozy Cuddlebug! Guinea pigs communicate with squeaks, purrs and body language, and feel safest with friends nearby. Zoey loves snuggle time with her students.
Periwinkle
Birthday: June 8, 2025
The Curious Explorer! Hiding places and tunnels help guinea pigs feel secure while they explore their world.
Fawn
Birthday: June 8, 2025
The Snack-Time Superstar! Fawn squeaks and whistles when veggies are coming. Guinea pigs need fresh hay and vitamin C every day.
Classroom habitats
Reptiles
Nico
Birthday: March 28, 2020
The Curious Dragon! The spiky pouch under a bearded dragon’s chin darkens and puffs out when it communicates or feels threatened.
Starburst
The Sunny Sunbather! Bearded dragons are ectotherms, so a warm basking spot isn’t a luxury: it keeps them healthy.
Starfruit
Birthday: March 7, 2022
Leopard geckos are most active at dusk and night. They have no sticky toe pads, so they use little claws to get around.
Lilo
Leopard geckos store fat in their thick tails, an energy reserve for when food is scarce. Cute and clever!
Archibald
Birthday: June 1, 2013
A little desert dragon built for hot, dry places. Unlike most lizards, uromastyx are mostly herbivores that eat greens, flowers and seeds.
Archie
Birthday: April 9, 2017
A couch potato by day and an adventurer by afternoon. Corn snakes are excellent climbers that grip with strong muscles and belly scales.
Classroom habitats
And a few more friends
Ophelia Blue
Birthday: October 31, 2024
The Colourful Canopy Queen! Pinktoe tarantulas live in trees and spin silken retreats, so Ophelia relaxes in her web hammocks above the classroom.
Sir Kiwi Hopscotch
Pacman frogs get their nickname from their round bodies, enormous mouths and wide heads, which look like the video game character.
Our heritage animals connect to our partnership with The Livestock Conservancy. Students care for every animal here through our animal stewardship teams.
Want to meet them in person? Book a tour.
Come and meet the flock
Our admissions team responds within 24 hours, Monday to Friday.
