Grove Gazette

 Sub-Committee 


Sustainability Sub-Committee Highlights Reel

  • Progressed our project to install solar panels at OGPS with a 50kW solar power system funded by the Greener Government School Buildings Grant installed on the roof of the gym; and nearing completion early next year the Barwon Solar Schools project (funded by the Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning New Energy Jobs Fund) to install a further 20.48kW solar power system. 
  • Awarded 2021 Coastcare Grant that will fund our Ocean Plastic Pollution Education and Prevention Strategies project. The project will include four incursions focussing on ocean pollution, plastic pollution prevention strategies including waste management and waste repurposing and an onsite recycling collection station.
  • Successful in the Southern Ocean Environmental Link Sustainable Schools Competition in the categories of Highest Social Engagement and Corporate Social Responsibility.
  • Continued with our waste reduction journey as part of the Resource Smart Schools program. Highlights include a school wide classroom Waste Audit and a social studies unit on waste.
  • Another big highlight is the classroom composting system that began this year. The system includes lidded buckets in the classroom and compost bins in the SKAG. A big thank you to our Grade 6 monitors who are making sure the system runs smoothly. 
  • Re-instated Nude Food to help reduce the waste generated by the school. Nude Food has been championed by two of our amazing Grade 6 students Owain and Trey. As part of this initiative, we also ran an inaugural Nude Food Day. 
  • Kicked off our Recycling Hub with bread tag (Bread Tags for Wheelchairs) and bottle top (Lids4Kids) collections.
  • Switched all our paper to recycled. 
  • Changed all the lighting at school to LED light globes.
  • Established the Sustainability Teachers Group lead by Emma Powell and including Mia Reece, Carly Eddy, Megan King and Bec Bradbury. Huge thank you to all the massive effort the teachers group have put in this year to further our sustainability goals. 
  • Launched the OGPS Eco Club section in the Grove Gazette.

The Sustainability Sub-Com have continued to meet and plan throughout the year, in and out of lockdowns and remote learning, in person when we can and online when we need to. The group has rolled with the ups and downs, pivoting our initiatives as the changes came. It has been a challenging year, but also a busy one for us and I am so proud of all we have achieved. A big thank you to our Sustainability Sub-Com members this year - Kate McCallum, Courtney Johnson, Jackie Matthews, Sarah Simkin and Georgia Fiske. 

 

The Sustainability Sub-committee is a volunteer group which provides advice and support to School Council and OGPS on progressing sustainability and positive environmental outcomes at the school. If you would like to be a part of the sustainability team and support the school in their sustainability journey please contact: ocean.grove.ps@education.vic.gov.au

 

 

 

 

Inclusion Sub Committee 2021 Report 

Inclusion and diversity has been a big priority at OGPS in 2021. We are very excited to share in the joy that the new Inclusive Playground will bring when it’s built next year after being successful in obtaining a grant for its construction and for the school to promote awareness about people with a disability.

The launch of the Database of Inclusion Resources for students, parents and staff, on the school website was a proud achievement for our subcommittee. This is a place where the school community can access literature and information for all ages and stages on topics that matter to our kids and families. Check it out at http://www.ogps.vic.edu.au/index.php/inclusion-sub-committee/.

Seeing the House T-Shirts with the new Indigenous names and designs be ready for purchase is the culmination of a great student lead inclusive initiative that celebrates our community’s Indigenous history and culture. We can’t wait to see them worn proudly with great house spirit next year.

National day for people with a Disability is on 3rd December  and challenges us all to think about how we can work hard to ensure we create a culture of inclusivity where everyone receives access to educational opportunities on the same equal basis. The Inclusion Sub Committee is proud to be part of this journey with the OGPS community. 

If you want to make a difference in this space too, come join us in 2022!

 

Miriam Leahy

Chair, Inclusion Sub Committee

 

 

 

Inclusive Playground Letter 

from Simone Shanahan 

We have some big news for you, but first a little context…In early 2020, the OGPS School Council took the important step of establishing key subcommittees to assist the council and the school leadership team to build efficiency and effectiveness in performing our duties on behalf of the school community. We determined that one crucial area of focus must be on creating meaningful inclusion for our diverse community, thus establishing an ‘Inclusion Subcommittee’. Our school, along with the council, highly values the provision of an education and a learning environment that includes everyone, allowing all of our children to develop their individual strengths, whilst fostering a culture of respect and belonging – concepts that are essential to the development of self-worth and psychological resilience.

 

It is with great pride and excitement therefore, that we can announce that with an incredible amount of hard work and tenacity, led by Greg Pascoe-Leahy (our School Council Treasurer), Miriam Leahy (Chair of the Inclusion Subcommittee), and the ever-admirable persistence and passion of both Scott McCumber and Kristy Hannan-Cuthbertson, OGPS has won an Inclusive Schools grant, on merit, and will shortly be installing a most astounding ‘Inclusive Playground’ for all of our children.

 

The school leadership team once again engaged the students in discussions regarding preferences and planning, ensuring student voice was present in decisions regarding what happens to their school.  We’d also like to acknowledge King’s Landscaping for their assistance in the initial design and plans to help set the direction and scope for the work too. Ed Ewers Architects, appointed by the Victorian School Building Authority (VSBA) also collaborated extensively with relevant allied health experts, including occupational therapists, to ensure that the plans were truly fit for purpose. The final plans are truly extraordinary, and are a tribute to all of those individuals who worked tirelessly on behalf of all of the children at OGPS to firstly apply for the grant, secure it, and then engage in the all of the pursuits required to see the project come to fruition. 

 

Thank you, and congratulations to all of the School Council for your ongoing support of this project over the last 12 months. And to the school community – hold onto your hats. This beautiful playground will allow all of our children, carers, families, and teachers to play and interact in an environment that truly welcomes everyone.

 

Simone Shanahan

School Council President