Environment Group News
Ms Kathryn Badini, Environment Group Coordinator
Marist College Ashgrove
It has been a busy few weeks for the Environment Group, with students participating in a range of activities both within the College and the wider community.
Firstly, our very successful Free Dress Day on 31 July raised $2,649.00 in support of the wonderful work of Stationery Aid. The funds raised will help provide essential stationery and school supplies to students from disadvantaged backgrounds, ensuring they have the resources they need to fully participate in their education.
At lunchtime on the same day, students also ran a very successful ice cream and soft drink stand to raise funds for our Year 10 Lord Mayor's Young Environmental Leadership Network (LMYELN), who are hoping to improve the Science greenhouse as their environmental project. Proceeds will also contribute to the ongoing maintenance of our beehives.
On Tuesday 18 August, Year 10 – 12 members of the Environment Group attended Stuartholme School's EccoFest. This fantastic initiative brought together students from a number of Catholic schools to learn more about environmental sustainability and action. Students participated in a variety of workshops, connected with like-minded young people, and gained valuable insights into ways they can make a positive impact on the environment.
Additionally, on Sunday 23 August, a group of students from Years 7 to 10 joined members of the Mount St Michael's Environment Group for a gardening project at Meals on Wheels Ashgrove. This rewarding experience allowed students to contribute directly to the local community while supporting the maintenance and beautification of the garden space. Sebastian has provided a summary of the day, which can be found below.
We are incredibly proud of the enthusiasm and commitment our students continue to show towards environmental stewardship and community service. We look forward to sharing more of their achievements in the coming months.
MCA & MSM Meals on Wheels Working Bee – by Sebastian Kaminski
On Sunday, 16 MCA and MSM students from Years 7-10 (8 from each school) gathered together for the Meals on Wheels Working Bee. Once we had all signed in, we started by getting a tutorial on how to plant and weed by the local environment leader Janet.
As we progressed, Janet showed us what each tool and component was used for, and how to secure the plant in the ground. Once we had planted around 20 Lomandra Longifolia (a native Australian grass-like plant that is fire-resistant and suitable for securing banks etc.) in the surrounding area, we had a break before we split into groups. Once there were around 2 mixed groups, we started planting some Lavander and other floral plants behind the Ashgrove Meals on Wheels centre.
Finally, we distributed mulch over all the plants to provide protection and homes for insects and the plants themselves. We finished up the day with a hearty Sausage Sizzle along with some cookies and rewards for our hard work.