Environmental Focus Group

Many people in the ASC community will be aware of excellent work done by the ASC Environmental Focus Group. In this student-led initiative, many wonderful students volunteer their time, ideas and energy to make a positive difference around the School and in our community. 

Every day, ASC students put empty bottles, cans and poppers in Yellow top Bins around the School. Each Friday, Environmental Focus Group students empty the Yellow top Bins, collect the empty drink containers and recycle these at the Return-and-Earn centre for 10 cents each, making an average of $50 a week, thus $2000 over the last year. 

So, what do we do with the money we raise? 

This year, and the year before, we were able to donate $500 to Year 12 fundraising.

On Friday 16th September, tthe Environmental Focus Group put on a free Big Morning Tea for the whole School, providing enough homemade cake, slice, fruit, cookies and fudge for all students, teachers, staff and cleaners to have a free feast, all paid for from the '10 cents' containers we recycle!

Then on the weekend of 17th/18th September, seven students from the Environmental Focus Group, assisted by three experts from the Armidale Tree Group, two teachers and our Principal Ms Harvey-Bice, donated two hours of their time to plant 50 native trees, shrubs and other seedlings in the turning-circle garden-bed outside ASC offices. This is the first phase of planting that will transform the turning circle at the main entrance to ASC from a barren mound to a beautiful native garden. As well as contributing willing labour, the Environmental Focus Group was able to pay wages for one Armidale Tree Group employee for the morning, and to buy and install fencing to protect the new garden bed. We will also look after the new seedlings and water them as needed. The Armidale Tree Group very generously donated all plants for this project.

All interested students are welcome to join the Environmental Focus Group. We advertise meetings regularly in Student Daily Notices. Or simply meet us in B2 Neighbourhood on Friday lunchtimes to help us empty the Yellow top Bins. In 2021 and in 2022, many of our most active students were Year 12s, but we also have many keen Year 10s and Year 8s. I am confident that new students will step up in coming weeks to continue one of the best student-run initiatives at ASC. 

Mr Jamie Suddaby