Sustainability
DRI 'i sea, i care' Ambassadors Excursion to Jacks Beach Bittern
Last week, our St Mary’s i sea i care Ambassadors had an amazing excursion to Jacks Beach in Bittern, our final DRI workshop for the year!
Hudson from Living Culture shared the incredible knowledge of the Bunurong people and how they’ve used native plants for tens of thousands of years. We learnt that Tea Tree branches can be shaped into tools like boomerangs and eel traps, and its oils help protect skin and hair. We also discovered that Prickly Hedge Wattle seeds were traditionally ground into flour to make bread — bush tucker in action!
We even tried making fire the traditional way using a grass tree base and drill stick. Teamwork and patience were key to creating sparks and smoke!
On our wildlife walk, we spotted a Tawny Frogmouth camouflaged perfectly in a tree, and learnt about Powerful Owls and Microbats, which can eat their own body weight in mosquitoes every single night. At the saltmarsh, we tasted marsh saltbush and learnt about natural tannins in the water.
Jacks Beach and Warringine Reserve are fantastic places to explore, with walks, bike rides, and amazing flora and fauna!
This year, over 550 i sea i care Ambassadors across Victoria shared their learning with more than 40,000 people. We were proud to receive our certificates for all our learning and action, and we can’t wait to keep caring for our environment. Together, we can make a difference! Thank you for helping us care for our common home. From your 2025 DRI 'i sea, i care Ambassadors' Abby, Charlie, Flynn and Izzy.
National Recycling Week at St Mary's
In Permaculture lessons, our students have been exploring creative ways to reduce waste and care for our common home. 🌏
Did you know that plastic plant pots can be recycled at Bunnings and turned into brand-new pots? Click the image on Slide 1 to learn more about this great circular solution!
The Mornington Peninsula Shire Recycling Guide (also on Slide 1) is a handy resource for understanding what can be recycled and how; https://www.mornpen.vic.gov.au/Your-Property/Rubbish-Recycling/Resource-Recovery-Centres-Hoppers/Waste-and-Recycling-Guide
Our Grade 3–6 students have been designing creative recycling signs for a national competition, see Slide 3 for more details! 🎨
Did you know, we also partner with the Container Deposit Scheme (CDS) Victoria. Every bottle, carton, or juice box recycled helps raise funds for our school garden. 🌿 Thank you for helping us care for our environment and support our school!