Student Empowerment

It's a wonderful feeling to see students having a positive impact on our school through the initiatives the 3/4s developed in specialist Inquiry last year. Here are just a few things that have happened so far this year - but many other things are happening behind the scenes or soon to be launched, so stay tuned!

The Toilets - making them a more welcoming space and encouraging better behaviour

Last year lots of students in 3/4DE designed a mural and signs for the toilet entrance with the very generous support of the wonderful Tom Civil. Here are just a few of the signs that were put up last year. 

This year, we've added in the other elements of the designs that students came up with - posters for the backs of toilet doors and a noticeboard so that students can read student-created comics and other material while they're waiting for their friends in the toilets. Thank you Rhenny for installing these! 

Reducing Litter & Plastic Waste 

Late last year, Florence H and Winona wrote to Classroom Cuisine requesting that they stop sending the little plastic fish with soy sauce in the lunch orders because they can't be recycled - they end up as litter or landfill. This week they distributed the bottles of soy sauce and tamari (that can be recycled or refilled) that were donated by families last year. These will now be stored in each double class for student use. Thanks so much to the families who donated these bottles last year!

As another way to reduce litter in our school, Violet H, Sage, and Hazel B wrote a compelling letter attached to a proposed Litter Policy. Luke invited the students to present their proposal to School Council; so, on Tuesday night, the three students excitedly stood up in front of School Council. After some questions and discussion, the students were thrilled to see their policy adopted unanimously. This policy will provide further reason to act on other students' initiatives (Nude Food and Litter Pickers, for example) - stay tuned to find out about these in another edition of The Newlands Times!

Nerida

Specialist Community Inquiry teacher