International & Regional Engagement
TREE | Round Square
World Bee Day
On the 19 May (Friday), the environmental group from Round Square are holding a beeswax wraps and honey-based snack sale during lunch in front of the dining hall. Wraps will be for sale at $10-$15 each and treats from $2. These can be purchased via cash or card.
Beeswax wraps are a great alternative to cling wrap, as beeswax wraps are more environmentally friendly due to the fact that they are biodegradable, reusable and easy to make, use and care for. They also keep your food fresher than the average cling wrap.
We are focusing on bringing awareness to the essential roles bees and other pollinators play in keeping people and the planet healthy. Bees and other pollinators are crucial in the achievement of food security as three out of four crops across the globe produce fruits and/or seeds that are dependent on pollinators.
We will donate profits to the ‘Wheen Bee Foundation’ for the protection of our beloved bees.
Come support ‘World Bee Day’ and help the environmental group fundraise for the bees.
When: 19 May (Friday) at lunch
Where: Front of dining hall
Why: The main purpose of the event is to bring awareness to the essential roles bees and other pollinators play in keeping people and the planet healthy
Who: Environmental group (round square)
Organisation we are donating to: (https://www.wheenbeefoundation.org.au/)
Wheen Bee Foundation
What: Beeswax wraps and honey treats
Price: $10-$15 for wraps, from $2 for snacks bring cash or card
TREE Internships
Who?
Year 10 students. Anyone interested in challenging themselves and having a new experience. Whether you know what you would like to do when you finish school or just want to see what the working world looks like, this is an experience for you. If you love the traditional classroom and want a challenge, or if you prefer hands on learning, there are experiences that will help you grow.
Local business mentors. Are you a local with expertise and experience to share? We are always looking for new internship providers to challenge and enhance our students’ experiences. Join the list of esteemed collaborators and share your passion with the next generation.
What?
Students work in industry for the equivalent of 0.5 days a week for 20 weeks (Term 3 & 4 Year 10 excluding exams and camps). A wide variety of industries and types of experience on offer to suit different students.
All transport to and from the internship is provided by the school. Students work on a project agreed with the internship provider that benefits themselves, the company and the wider community. Internships are matched to student interests and skillsets.
Students will not find out what the internships are until they receive their acceptance letter. Students sign a job contract after having been accepted after a pitch to the companies.
Application Process
Students must submit a written application letter or videoed application that includes mention of the following:
- Background about them and their home life
- Subjects chosen for Year 11 and favourite subjects at school
- Interests outside of the school
- Career they are aiming towards (no problem if you don’t know!)
- Things they are passionate about
- How they have demonstrated commitment to something
- The skills and characteristics that make them stand out
- Reason for applying
- How they are or could be a good role model for other students
Email your application or OneDrive link to ryoull@kws.nsw.edu.au lcallaghan@kws.nsw.edu.au and sgavin@kws.nsw.edu.au
Following submissions, the TREE Team will draw up a shortlist and conduct interviews.
When?
Key dates For Students:
Week 3 Friday, 12 May: Applications Open
Week 5 Friday, 26 May: Applications due
Week 6-7: Interviews with short listed students
Week 8 – 9: Confirmation of successful applications and placements Student briefing. Interns pitch to providers and sign job contracts
Week 2 Term 3: Commence placement as negotiated with provider
Key dates for mentors:
If you are keen, get in touch anytime via the emails above. We’d love to come and chat to you about the program.
Why?
Developing skills that will benefit students in their school life and beyond. Communication, organization, teamwork, developing a relationship with a mentor and learning about a whole business you may not have thought about before. Need any more reasons? Check out this promo video made by an Intern working with a PR company.
Password: TREE2020
Permaculture update from Windermere
Jo Howarth
At the end of March I was fortunate to attend a permaculture design course with Holmgren Design just outside of the beautiful township of Dalesford, Victoria.
The two weeks were jam packed with content about progressive, regenerative agriculture & permaculture, visiting and learning from some of the most established organic permaculture & collaborative properties in Australia.
David Holmgren, the co-originator of permaculture was our main teacher for the duration among many other guest presenters and permaculture teachers.
The whole experience was life changing and inspirational.
I’ve come back to Kinross Wolaroi with plenty of ideas for Windermere and our TREE projects and will slowly and steadily implement a range of these ideas with the focus being to coordinate projects that fit with junior and senior school curriculum and units of study over the winter & spring months this year, in preparation for our main growing season in summer.
Coming into winter I’ll be concentrating on improving the soil in our market garden and future orchard area naturally by making good use of the waste our school farm produces, hopefully changing the mindset here to ‘there’s no such thing as waste’ which in turn creates closed loop nutrient cycles within our small vegetable plot to essentially produce nutrient dense food for the students to cook with.
Like all naturally driven concepts there is always room for hurdles and problems, and overcoming these problems with solutions whilst creatively adapting to change is the way forward, and permaculture design principles and ethics help us to evolve and thrive as more hurdles arise.
I’m always on the lookout to make connections within our school community especially with students and teachers who have sustainability or related units of study that could be conjured into a hands-on project for contextual learning opportunities.
Please reach out if you would like to connect and discuss any potential permaculture projects at Windermere.