In the 2019 round the Environmental Trust received and assessed 93 proposals. On the recommendation of an independent Technical Review Committee, the Trust approved funding for 54 projects, a total of $189,000.
Eco Schools 2019 grants awarded and project summaries
$3500 has been allocated to each successful Eco Schools project across New South Wales in 2019.
Organisation | Project title |
---|---|
Aetaomah School | A Bio Dynamic Vegetable Garden |
Aldavilla Primary School | Organic Lifeskills and Lifestyles |
Austinmer Public School | The Composting Zone – organic waste recycling system and learnscape |
Balgownie Public School | In the Foothills of Mt Keira – 'Kullillah' (meeting place) |
Bowraville Central School | Engaging in the Word of Native Bees |
Callaghan College Waratah Technology Campus | Plant Your Plate |
Cambridge Park Public School | The Sensory Garden |
Campbell House School | Living Classroom and Aboriginal Yarning Circle |
Caringbah North Public School | Caringbah North Sustainable Bush Tucker Garden |
Casino West Public School | Sensory Retreat |
Chifley College Shalvey Campus | Creating healthy gardens for a sustainable future |
Coal Point Public School | Environmental Avengers Reduce, Recycle, Reuse, Compost |
Corowa Public School | Bpangerang Native Garden |
Corrimal High School | Our Sensory Space |
Crabbes Creek Public School | How will we improve the water quality and ecosystem of our creek? |
East Maitland Public School | The Endemic Friendship Garden |
Aetaomah School
A Bio Dynamic Vegetable Garden
The Project aims at supporting and promoting the adoption of organic practices that lead to a safer and more sustainable food production system. This community project will offer an experience of a truly holistic and new approach to the learning and teaching of food production, soil improvement and land management with an emphasis on sustainability, water usage efficiency and waste minimisation.
Aldavilla Primary School
Organic Lifeskills and Lifestyles
Our school's environmental conscience is taking it to the next level to support and promote sustainable living from our War on Waste to incorporating Organic Lifeskills and Lifestyles through the implementation of solar power. Students will experience hands-on learning on how to convert solar power into fully functioning, sustainable and effective devices to be used on a day to day basis within the school. The Kitchen Garden program, Robotics, STEM and units of work which are embedded into our K-6 scope and sequence as part of the mandatory requirements within our Science and Technology syllabus will drive this project from the grassroots and paddock to plate perspective.
Austinmer Public School
The Composting Zone – organic waste recycling system and learnscape
This project will create an organic waste recycling area as a learning space where students can observe the importance of natural life cycles. Called, the Composting Zone, this space will provide a responsible and sustainable way to deal with the schools' organic waste. Food waste will be directed away from landfill and the school will be positively contributing to a better environment, while creating a valuable resource. Composted waste will generate nutrient-rich soil that will be used in purpose-built garden beds and provide students with a hands-on, practical understanding of the complete food cycle.Balgownie Public School
In the Foothills of Mt Keira – 'Kullillah' (meeting place)
Mt Keira is significant as part of our local Five Islands Dreaming. In the view of Mother Geera (Keira) we will co-develop and co-design a yarning circle and bush garden with the local AECG, parents and students. An underutilised paved area will be repurposed as a learning space, including planting local native species, creating habitat for native bees and using rainwater collected to care for the garden. Students will gain an understanding of the local Dharawal culture, while exploring their own sense of connectedness to the Land. The garden will be a learning place and resource for teaching curriculum, sustainability and conservation. This project is under consultation with the Northern Illawarra Aboriginal Education Consultative Group (NIAECG).
Bowraville Central School
Engaging in the World of Native Bees
The project will raise awareness of bees in our school and support raising the next generation of bee advocates. Engaging in the 100 Hives in 100 Schools project aims to raise the profile of native bees for future generations and highlight their value in terms of strategies for diversifying beekeeping in the agricultural and food industry, as well as increasing the numbers of native bees across the Mid North Coast as a whole. This is implemented highlighting the use of sustainable practices in working with native bees.
Callaghan College Waratah Technology Campus
Plant Your Plate
The project seeks to establish a sustainable food garden to encourage students to be actively involved in soil preparation, planting and growing plants, collection of produce and composting. This will support the Special Education cooking program to provide regular garden-fresh lunch items for students and staff. Organic and recycling systems and worm farms will be incorporated into the project to reduce organic waste and demonstrate the environmental benefits of sustainable, edible gardens.
Cambridge Park Public School
The Sensory Garden
This Sensory Garden project aims to provide students with an innovative, nature-based outdoor learning space which meets their social, emotional, academic and sensory needs. In line with the school strategic plan, students will benefit from a holistic approach to learning which encompasses a diverse range of needs in an environment where they feel supported to learn, play and engage in a variety of sensory experiences. The Sensory Garden will provide students with opportunities to learn about plants, animals, sustainability, healthy eating habits, cooking and food preparation, water conservation, animal habitats, food chains, lifecycles, composting, companion planting, food and seed harvesting and develop and apply problem solving skills through a range of hands-on gardening activities.
Campbell House School
Living Classroom and Aboriginal Yarning Circle
The project 'Living Classroom and Aboriginal Yarning Circle' will increase the quality of the school environment by providing outdoor space for the whole school to engage in learning and mindfulness sessions, thereby improving student and staff wellbeing. This space will also be used to educate students on environmental sustainability, engage in Aboriginal traditions and gatherings of school's Aboriginal committee.
Caringbah North Public School
Caringbah North Sustainable Bush Tucker Garden
The project will create an outdoor learning space/bush tucker garden in a garden area of the school that is currently in need of maintenance. A worm farm will also be established to compost food scraps generated by the school each day. Students, staff and community members will be invited to help design and transform the area including bush tucker plants. The school aims to connect with local Aboriginal groups to further learn about the Dharawal people who lived in this area. Interpretive outdoor signs will be installed to assist students identify Aboriginal bush tucker plants.
Casino West Public School
Sensory Retreat
The project will create a therapeutic and calm sensory garden to cater for the needs of special needs students whilst learning about sustainability. Students will be actively involved in establishing composting and worm farming systems from our organic waste and creating a vegetable garden to promote respect and a sense of responsibility for our environment. Native plants will provide necessary screening whilst attracting the birdlife. A buddy garden will be incorporated to enhance social skills and foster connections with other students whilst sharing our knowledge.
Chifley College Shalvey Campus
Creating healthy gardens for a sustainable future
This Garden project will enable students to design, create and construct healthy food gardens utilising a mixture of recycled and new materials. The project will incorporate the use of organic fertilisers, irrigation systems and pest management techniques. This Garden project will involve the students researching and planning to cultivate a variety of Native Australia Fruit trees as well as traditional seasonal vegetables which will act as a low-cost supplement to a healthy diet and lifestyle.
Coal Point Public School
Environmental Avengers – Reduce, Recycle, Reuse, Compost
Environmental Avengers will target our school's waste and litter through increased awareness, education and improved management of waste. Students will audit bins, measure litter index, and be encouraged to implement ways to reduce waste and litter. An improved waste collection system will segregate recyclables and organics into the correct streams. Community workshops will raise awareness, support behavioural change and develop skills in recycling, packing waste free lunches, composting and keeping worm farms. Visits to the local recycling and environmental education centres will consolidate our project objectives to Reduce, Recycle, Reuse and Compost
.Corowa Public School
Bpangerang Native Garden
The project aims to create an environmentally sustainable outdoor classroom featuring indigenous gardens, bird boxes, a bush tucker garden and totems. Students will learn about biodiversity, understand the nature and function of ecosystems and how they are interrelated. Students will respect the environment by evaluating and supporting long-term solutions to environmental problems. Community partnerships with the project will ensure ongoing support and management of the garden.
Corrimal High School
Our Sensory Space
The project will develop a sensory garden that will serve as a rich resource for teaching, learning and wellbeing, fulfilling purposes including:
- Providing a therapeutic space for mental and physical relaxation, targeting students with particular behavioural, emotional and sensory needs.
- Assisting students to regulate their behaviour through practising de-escalation strategies.
- Allowing for the development of senses while fostering an understanding and appreciation for the natural world.
- Serving as an outdoor learning space, open to be used as a rich curriculum resource providing many opportunities for meaningful, hands-on learning.
- Providing an alternative learning environment for students having difficulty engaging in the classroom.
Crabbes Creek Public School
Improving the water quality and ecosystem of our creek
The aim of the project is to engage students in project-based learning with a key question posed i.e. 'How can we restore the riparian zone along our creek to improve the habitat for the Richmond Birdwing butterfly, improve the water quality and so ecosystem and local environment?' The project will extend on our established outdoor environmental initiative originally instigated through the P&C. Student engagement in restoring the riparian zone and studying the habitat requirements for the Richmond birdwing butterfly will promote the development of knowledge, values and behaviour in students that supports environmental sustainability. The project will assist teachers to access targeted professional learning that assists with integrating environmental management into curriculum delivery, by facilitating students to solve real world problems and extend their own understandings of the process.
East Maitland Public School
The Endemic Friendship Garden
Our school grounds are exposed to significant traffic noise and pollution from the New England Highway impeding the number of native birds and wildlife found on school grounds. The project will redevelop an under-utilised area of our school grounds by creating an endemic friendship garden. This will include creating a natural outdoor learning space consisting of large native canopy trees and endemic understory planting, creating shade and a windbreak, improving air quality, and providing a safe haven for wildlife.
Organisation | Project title |
---|---|
Harbord Public School | Unwrapped |
Hilltop Road Public School | Managing Waste and Ecosystems |
Holy Family Primary School | Holy Family Eco Warrior's Garden Project |
Huntingdon Public School | Engaging in the world of Native Bees |
Jamberoo Public School | The JPS Rainforest and Bush Tucker Gardens Project |
Katoomba High School | Reducing Waste, Growing Biodiversity |
Lake Cargelligo Central School | Kartjellakoo (Wiradjuri meaning 'he had a coolamon') |
Leeville Public School | Habitat and Homes for Leeville Gliders |
Lucas Heights Community School | Sensory Garden – Support Unit |
Manning Adventist School | Bush Food Garden and Propagation House |
Marayong Public School | Accessible Outdoor Learning Space for our School Community |
Maria Regina Catholic Primary School | Ribbit!' Let's Grow Together in our Habitat Sensory Garden |
Mater Maria Catholic College Warriewood | Warriewood Waste Warriors |
McCarthy Catholic College Emu Plains | A Sustainable Riparian Zone on the Nepean River |
Moorebank High School | Project Sensory Garden, The Art Courtyard, Moorebank High School |
Muirfield High School | Muirfield Kitchen and Sensory Garden |
Nambucca Valley Christian Community School | Engaging in the world of Native Bees |
Harbord Public School
Unwrapped
After completing a recent litter audit at the school, food packaging waste was identified as the main litter type. Knowing that this would end up in the ocean and local waterways, students and staff identified the need to reduce food related packaging entering the school. It was also identified that the school community needed to be educated about the impacts of plastic pollution and waste. A three-pronged project will provide a thorough education to students and staff, launch beeswax wraps and involve families and community members in the initiatives and the project.
Hilltop Road Public School
Managing Waste and Ecosystems
We currently recycle paper products, but most of our school's waste ends up in landfill. After surveying the school's waste, we will implement a school-wide composting program and worm farm. We will introduce sorting station bins within the school. Students will drive the project by collecting data, monitoring waste and educating students and the wider school community about the need to reduce, reuse and recycle. We will also look at ecosystems and plant native trees and plants in our school gardens to encourage native bees.
Holy Family Primary School
Holy Family Eco Warrior's Garden Project
The development of an outdoor environmental space at Holy Family will allow student involvement to design and establish a garden with composting systems. Maintaining these will improve knowledge and understanding of how sustainability impacts student lives. Inquiry Based Learning is a school focus, so this project will develop the conceptual understanding of students through experiential inquiry. This endeavour will offer alternate pathways for learning for disengaged students. Composting and sustainable gardening methods will reduce greenhouse gases and therefore the environmental footprint of the school.
Huntingdon Public School
Engaging in the world of Native Bees
The project will raise awareness of bees in our school and support raising the next generation of bee advocates. Engaging in the 100 Hives in 100 Schools project aims to raise the profile of Native Bees for future generations and highlight their value in terms of strategies for diversifying beekeeping in the agricultural and food industry, as well as increasing the numbers of Native Bees across the Mid North Coast as a whole. This is implemented highlighting the use of sustainable practices in working with Native Bees.
Jamberoo Public School
The JPS Rainforest and Bush Tucker Gardens Project
This project aims to provide plants for both a rainforest garden and a bush tucker garden by March 2020. We would like our students to develop an understanding of their local plants, both rainforest species and bush tucker/bush medicine plants. This project will be undertaken by the school's gardening club (which includes all interested students, K-6) and Indigenous students, but will benefit all students. A current garden with a history focus will be enhanced by adding rainforest species and additional plants will be added to a bush tucker garden in a 'bush tucker' bed of an already established vegetable garden. All students, K-6, will have access to these plants to enhance their knowledge of the original local environment in the Jamberoo Valley.
Katoomba High School
Reducing Waste, Growing Biodiversity
This project is focused on creating biodiversity and reducing waste through the school's 'Environmental Collective' comprising staff and students. Through developing small gardens (sensory and seasonal) students will learn about organic gardening and use garden produce in the classroom for cooking. Reducing waste through the recycling of organic matter and all plastics will reduce our school's ecological footprint and improve habitats for local species. Our school garden will provide a green space for students where they will learn about organic gardening, waste reduction systems such as composting and worm farming and link the physical activity of gardening to wellbeing, healthy food choices and enhanced natural environments. The project will create more opportunities for community involvement and student leadership.
Lake Cargelligo Central School
Kartjellakoo (Wiradjuri meaning 'he had a coolamon')
Kartjellakoo Indigenous Garden project seeks to recognise and empower Wiradjuri as traditional owners of the country and acknowledge the presence of Barkindji and Ngiyampaa tribes on these lands. Students will be supported to learn about their natural environment from the perspectives of their Elders.
Leeville Public School
Habitat and Homes for Leeville Gliders
This project is based on the Great Eastern Ranges 'Glideways' program which aims to help schools develop awareness of corridors and habitat connectivity. It is an environmental education program equipping students with understanding of general conservation principles and sustainable land management practices using Gliders as a flagship species. Through practical activities, it strengthens local wildlife corridors and promotes understanding in students and the school community of the importance of maintaining tree corridors in rural areas. The project incorporates educational experiences that acknowledge Aboriginal peoples, protect significant areas of habitat and recognises threats to biodiversity. It teaches how individuals can help save threatened species. The project will encourage the local community to protect and restore the glider corridor along Shannonbrook Creek by demonstrating good environmental stewardship of the creek through the school grounds and equipping students to teach others through what they have learnt.
Lucas Heights Community School
Sensory Garden – Support Unit
Our project will create an enriched sensory environment to promote relaxation, de-escalation from anxiety episodes, reflection, observation and immersion in the natural world, and learning from the natural environment. Endemic plants will be prioritised with a view to developing a sensory self-sustaining ecosystem, specifically encouraging a range of native animals. The design will include areas for solitary time and student/staff interaction. The project will restore native vegetation and habitat to the school environment.
Manning Adventist School
Bush Food Garden and Propagation House
The project will incorporate a bush food garden around the play area where the students can walk, learn and tend to the plants and trees. Local edible native plant species will be propagated and planted for consumption and education. The students will be responsible for the care and upkeep of the garden. The gardens will form part of the front of the school for practical and aesthetic reasons.
Marayong Public School
Accessible Outdoor Learning Space for our School Community
The purpose of our project is to create a wheel-chair accessible outdoor learning environment based on fundamentals of sustainability. The project will give all students, regardless of ability, the opportunity to assist in co-creating and design thinking skills with the outdoor learning space being used to promote connection, preservation and protection of our local environment.
Maria Regina Catholic Primary School
Ribbit!' Let's Grow Together in our Habitat Sensory Garden
The primary goal for re-imagining this school space is to create a place that promotes social and emotional wellbeing for ALL students, in particular, those with high needs, both physical and emotional, and to enhance and nurture local biodiversity. Construction and establishment of a vertical garden that has a strong focus on bug friendly plants and habitats. The plants will be interspersed with bug hotel/habitat structures designed and built by the students and the sandpit area will be repurposed into a frog pond and lizard habitat area, and water for local wildlife in the dry summer months. The new native Sensory Garden will have a range of smells, colours and textures to stimulate the senses, reduce anxiety, regulate moods and provide visual appeal.
Mater Maria Catholic College Warriewood
Warriewood Waste Warriors
Currently, there is a single waste stream with everything going to the 'Tip'. An Earth Care committee of staff and students was formed and we have developed a School Environment Management Plan (SEMP) with the immediate goal to remove all food waste from our general waste stream. This food waste will be composted and used in established and newly established gardens. Initial use of the produce from the gardens will be as a renewable resource for the teaching of Food Technology. We also are withdrawing plastic bottles and glass from the waste stream and using the income from a Return and Earn initiative (Rockdale) to help fund some of our composting work and equipment. Also, we have established a native Bee Hive to help with pollination. A worm farm is also being purchased. The project will achieve a greater level of sustainability for our local environment and decrease our waste management costs as a school. It will also create a healthier environment.
McCarthy Catholic College Emu Plains
A Sustainable Riparian Zone on the Nepean River
The project will investigate the Riparian Zone as a unique ecosystem on the Nepean River that has been damaged by human activity and introduced species. Students will learn how to reduce and manage waste at school and at home, as well as working with the broader community, specifically, Mulgoa Valley Landcare, to achieve sustainability outcomes by identifying introduced fauna and flora to implement an Environmental Action Plan to reduce pests and weeds.
Moorebank High School
Project Sensory Garden, The Art Courtyard, Moorebank High School
Through this project, we will investigate how students engage with the learning spaces around the school. Students will investigate data from other schools, establishments, and experts and use this knowledge to determine plants that should be planted in a sensory garden, of which the school will use to maintain positive student wellbeing. Further, students will use their knowledge to determine which native plants and animals are most suitable for use in aquaponics, relationships between plants and animals and examine sustainable food practices including plant care and healthy eating. Raised garden beds will be constructed to support these activities. Trust funds will be used to establish the sensory garden and a large-scale aquaponics system by purchasing associated garden materials, equipment, development of curriculum resources, and professional development.
Muirfield High School
Muirfield Kitchen and Sensory Garden
The project seeks to build a combined sustainable kitchen and sensory garden for the school community. Both Special Needs and mainstream students will be involved in all aspects of the project from planning and design to construction through to ongoing maintenance and planting schedules with each phase linked to elements of the curriculum. The aims of the project are as follows:
- Educate students and staff on environmental sustainability.
- Educate students about growing food and preparing healthy meals.
- Create an area of therapeutic value. An area of calm for students needing a time out.
Nambucca Valley Christian Community School
Engaging in the world of Native Bees
The project will raise awareness of bees in our school and support raising the next generation of bee advocates. Engaging in the 100 Hives in 100 Schools project aims to raise the profile of native bees for future generations and highlight their value in terms of strategies for diversifying beekeeping in the agricultural and food industry, as well as increasing the numbers of native bees across the Mid North Coast as a whole. This is implemented highlighting the use of sustainable practices in working with native bees.
Organisation | Project title |
---|---|
Oran Park Public School | Garden and Environment-Support Unit |
Raleigh Public School | Raleigh Public School Native Bee Project |
Richmond Christian College | Richmond's Riches Kitchen Garden |
Ryde Public School | Sensory Garden and Outdoor Learning Environment |
Ryde Secondary College | Ryde Secondary College: Enhancing Environmental Teaching and Learning |
Shalvey Public School | Connecting to Country Garden |
Shoal Bay Public School | Squeeze the day garden |
St Bede's Catholic Primary School | Through the senses we are connecting with our environment |
St Clair High School | The Farm |
St John Paul II Catholic College | Let's Clean Up Our School |
St John's College Woodlawn | Restoration and Rehabilitation of College Rainforest |
St Mary's High School Gateshead | Land and Sea in Harmony |
St Rose Catholic Primary School | Bee Amazing |
Oran Park Public School
Garden and Environment-Support Unit
The garden project aims to build awareness and knowledge of ecological sustainability. The special needs students will be exposed to real-life, hands-on learning experiences with nature, developing life-long skills to maintain a flourishing kitchen garden. The project will:
- Upgrade the garden to include an additional raised garden bed, wheelchair access, a seating area for emotional regulation and an outside learning space.
- Upgrade the composting system to include a deep compost bin to enrich our garden soil and plants.
- Add attachments to the water tank so students can access rainwater, reinforcing sustainability practices.
- Plant a vegetable kitchen garden that will provide a platform for a range of learning opportunities, linked with curriculum outcomes.
Raleigh Public School
Raleigh Public School Native Bee Project
The school places a high value on environmental sustainability and have our own vegetable and native food gardens, orchard and chickens, and implements a 'Garden to Plate' concept where once a fortnight a meal is cooked using produce from our school. Engaging in the 100 Hives in 100 Schools project would raise awareness for future generations and increase the numbers of Native Bees across our area. Using sustainable practices to work with Native Bees helps educate our students on their importance within our environment. We also could use the honey in our Kids in the Kitchen cooking program.
Richmond Christian College
Richmond's Riches Kitchen Garden
The Richmond's Riches Kitchen Garden project is the first step in establishing a Kitchen Garden at our school, with the long-term goal of catering monthly meals for the homeless population of Ballina in order to provide students with the opportunity to give back to the community. A patch of our playground has been converted to new classrooms and we wish to turn the outside classroom walls into vertical vegetable gardens with garden beds at the base. In addition, we want to establish a labyrinth in our playground for improved mental health and well-being.
Ryde Public School
Sensory Garden and Outdoor Learning Environment
The sensory garden/outdoor learning space project will improve the students emotional, physical and cognitive development. It will help students develop life skills including emotional regulation, independence, they gain an understanding of time and develop patience and persistence. This project is beneficial to students with sensory processing issues, such as autism, anxiety and ADHD. Sensory gardens teach non-verbal children how to participate in a cooperative effort thus developing their communication skills. The outdoor space is transformed into a colourful, aromatic aesthetically pleasing landscape that is an extension of the school's indoor classroom rather than just an outdoor space.
Ryde Secondary College
Ryde Secondary College: Enhancing Environmental Teaching and Learning
The project seeks to establish a vegetable garden will allow Special Needs students to experience, first-hand, the qualities and requirements of the garden, while they are learning about the scientific and environmental principles underpinning success.
We will embed sustainability education into several Key Learning Areas, and create teaching and learning resources, by identifying and optimising linkages between curricula and the potential of the garden as a teaching and learning resource. This will support our teachers, facilitate learning about the environment and sustainability, and initiate discussion/ exploration of these issues.
Shalvey Public School
Connecting to Country Garden
The project seeks to create a garden to promote and educate students about the traditional custodians of our land, the Dharug people. As a school that currently has 31% of Aboriginal students and 33% Pacific Islander students, we are committed to them exploring and making connections to their cultural heritage. We will investigate plant species that are suitable for a bush tucker garden that deepens connection to country and allow for authentic links to culture to occur. We will have a designated outdoor learning space for the specific educational purpose. Many of our students need exposure and a better understanding of where food comes from and how to maintain a healthy lifestyle through healthy food choices. This grant will allow our kitchen garden program to be enhanced while building community connections.
Shoal Bay Public School
Squeeze the day garden
Our aim is to design, build and maintain a sustainable organic orchard row. It will be used to support the school's eco-warrior program and work to educate students about the value of sustainable living, and benefits of composting. The school will eliminate harmful chemicals and attract bee pollination. The produce will be sold to fund on-going costs with excess being donated to our local aged and respite care facility. Students will sample fruit. In the long-term, the school will engage the local community by inviting them to submit citrus recipes to compile a 'Squeeze the Day' recipe book.
St Bede's Catholic Primary School
Through the senses we are connecting with our environment
St. Bede's will develop a 'Sensory Gardens Trail' where students can connect with nature through their senses in an educational, restorative and therapeutic way. The trail will be primarily 'sensory' and include scented and edible plants, textured objects, wind chimes, water feature and native plants and habitats. We will incorporate hardscape elements such as student-made mosaic tiles inspired by Indigenous art, pathways, birdhouses, class totems, lizard lounges and a native bee hotel. This project is inclusive of all students, teachers, parents and the broader community's participation.
St Clair High School
The Farm
The goal of this project is to help students develop an appreciation of the finite nature of resources and the impact of their use on the environment. Students will investigate managed systems and how they impact the sustainability of our food production and explore problems and opportunities considering environmental, technical and usability constraints. By building an Agriculture Farm, students will be able to focus on managed environments, including plantations and will investigate the sustainable supply of agriculturally produced materials.
St John Paul II Catholic College
Let's Clean Up Our School
The project seeks to address a recent decline in playground litter and will benefit the school by helping to make students more aware of the impact their actions have on the environment. Students will be encouraged to understand how to correctly recycle and take pride in their school community.
St John's College Woodlawn
Restoration and Rehabilitation of College Rainforest
In the 1960s, Father Stephen Maloney, student, teacher and Principal, had a dream to create a rainforest on the grounds of the College. He set aside 1 ha for his vision and planted rainforest species around the hoop pines and bunya nut pines that were planted when the College was established in 1931. Today, majestic trees grace the skyline, as well as an understory of weeds such as okra, privet, lantana and camphor laurel. Our aim is to restore the rainforest to its former glory and plant out an understory of rainforest species. In addition, the project would develop a learnscape that would include outdoor seating, sensory pathway, species signage information and a hide for watching native animals.
St Mary's High School Gateshead
Land and Sea in Harmony
While the aquaculture/aquaponics project is designed primarily for the education of our HSC Marine Studies students, it will be a key addition to our wonderfully active and successful Landcare Management Program. The project is designed to break from the conventional classroom and immerse students in a world of experiential learning. By using aqua-culture as an educational tool, we aim to interactively teach valuable STEM concepts and inspire students with ideas that can really benefit humanity. Aqua-culture will be a fun and easy way to engage students in sustainable technologies and alternative ways of growing food.
St Rose Catholic Primary School
Bee Amazing
The focus of the project is inquiry-based learning around the role of pollinators. Students will learn about environmental sustainability and biodiversity by examining the problem of the declining native bee population in Australia and around the world. With the help of native bee experts, we will establish a hive of native stingless bees, create bee hotels for solitary native bees and plant native flora, herbs and vegetables, designed to support the bees, and ensure they thrive and in turn improve the pollination rates in our vegetable and fruit gardens. The end goal being the creation of a very rich, biodiverse environment where our students can explore and learn about the role of nature in our lives through a hands-on, engaging approach.
Organisation | Project title |
---|---|
Tallowood Steiner School | Welcoming Native Bees |
The Beach School | The Beach School Water Wise Urban Food Garden |
The Entrance Public School | The Entrance School and Community Kitchen Garden |
Towradgi Public School | Outdoor Learning Area: Sensory Gardens, Towradgi Public School |
Trinity Anglican College Albury | Refutree Project |
Trinity Catholic Primary School Kemps Creek | Trinity's Waste Not Want Not Project |
Westmead Public School | Westmead Kitchen Garden |
Wyndham College | Wyndham's school kitchen garden |
Tallowood Steiner School
Welcoming Native Bees
The school is currently implementing a project to rehabilitate the waterway that runs through the school grounds and revegetating its banks with native species. As part of this ongoing project, we would like to introduce some native bee colonies and other habitats for native wildlife. We also want to raise awareness of bees in our schools and Little Star Bee Sanctuary currently has a project in our region where we can support raising the next generation of bee advocates. This will highlight the use of sustainable practices in working with native bees.
The Beach School
The Beach School Water Wise Urban Food Garden
The Beach School water-wise urban food garden is a project in which to redesign and construct the current kitchen food garden to a water-wise wicking bed system. The current food garden relies on watering using overhead sprinklers or rain. This results in a large amount of water wastage and poor-quality crops during dry periods. Wicking beds store water below soil allowing moisture to be more evenly distributed throughout the soil, creating better growing conditions allowing plants to thrive. Wicking beds can add value to school kitchen gardens as it limits the need to ensure someone is looking after them during school holidays. This project offers both students and the local community an example of how effective wicking bed systems are in growing food in urban environments.
The Entrance Public School
The Entrance School and Community Kitchen Garden
We will establish a kitchen garden on a currently disused and overgrown area of our school playground. The garden will be a resource for all students to learn and develop their knowledge of environmental sustainability. We will also develop a detailed Garden to Plate program featuring a range of accessible resources and recipes, which can be implemented using our existing portable kitchen. The students from our special needs class will work with mainstream buddy students to grow vegetables which they will then be able to use in their weekly cooking lessons, providing them with authentic and meaningful learning opportunities. An important feature of our project is its strong links to our community. Our collaboration with The Entrance Food Hub will enable us to reach out to families and the wider community to promote the environmental and health benefits of eating locally grown produce.
Towradgi Public School
Outdoor Learning Area: Sensory Gardens, Towradgi Public School
Towradgi Public School students are engaged in a STEAM Project involving the development of an Outdoor Learning Area. During the initial design process, students specifically identified the need for an inclusive space for all students and have requested the inclusion of Sensory Gardens to more effectively cater for the needs of the four support unit classes. The sensory garden will allow students to explore the environment through sensory stimulation (boosted by colour, sound, touch, taste and smell) and enhance students' knowledge of environmental sustainability. It will also allow for increased integration between mainstream and support classes during outdoor learning activities.
Trinity Anglican College Albury
Refutree Project
The 'Refutree Project' will allow all students and staff at Trinity Anglican College to act as environmental stewards and plant 1300 trees, shrubs and ground covers in the fragmented remnant vegetation located around the school boundaries. The college will purchase and plant an additional 500 plants each year. As the Thurgoona growth corridor continues its rapid expansion it places increasing pressure on the three threatened species (Sloane's froglet, regent honeyeater, and the squirrel glider) which are known to inhabit the area. Students will also construct and install 35 squirrel glider nesting boxes in the area and monitor their occupancy.
Trinity Catholic Primary School Kemps Creek
Trinity's Waste Not Want Not Project
Building upon recent food waste and recycling initiatives at the school, the project seeks to set up a worm farm and compost bin to more effectively use the school's food waste. The compost and worm produce will be used to enhance our vegetable gardens. Other activities include conducting a waste audit to obtain a clear idea of the impact our weekly Nude Food Day is having and then hopefully increase the number of nude food days. Through the data collected from the waste audit, we can also develop other avenues to recycle our waste and put it back into the school.
Westmead Public School
Westmead Kitchen Garden
The project seeks to develop a Kitchen Garden where students will be encouraged to experience gardening and develop an understanding of growing plants. This garden space will provide valuable experiences for students to learn about plants, food sources, sustainability and more.
Wyndham College
Wyndham's school kitchen garden
The project will provide Kinaesthetic learning outcomes for students with learning difficulties and social integration issues and improve the College's environment and wildlife habitat. Our aim is to establish several student-led curriculum driven projects where learning is integrated with real-world hands-on activities that focus on biodiversity, energy, garden, waste and water through environmental awareness.