Green Team News

Sustainability News – Term 1 Wrap-Up at Albany Rise Primary School

Dear School Community,

As Term 1 draws to a close, we would like to take a moment to reflect on the incredible sustainability journey we’ve shared so far in 2025. From hands-on gardening to leadership in waste management, great conversations, a science experiment and more! Our students at Albany Rise have embraced every opportunity to care for the environment and make a meaningful difference within our school grounds.

Student Leadership & Waste Awareness

Our Environmental Leaders have stepped up with energy and purpose this term. They presented confidently at assembly with a progress update on Nude Food Tuesdays, encouraging waste-free lunches and healthy choices. Their reminder to take soft plastics home has helped reinforce our commitment to reducing landfill and managing what we can process at school.

We’ve continued our recycling efforts with great consistency, especially our Thursday bin walks, which have become a valued routine across year levels. It’s been inspiring to see students engaged in sorting materials correctly and taking ownership of the school's waste systems.

Outdoor Learning & Gardening Progress

Students have been active in our veggie patch and native gardens, nurturing new plantings and harvesting our silver beet that is thriving.  Vegetable Patch highlights include our heirloom vegetables, crisp lettuce varieties, and the ongoing care of our eucalyptus trees. 

Our younger students have participated in nature walks, frog bog visits, and compost investigations, sparking curiosity about ecosystems, decomposition, and how small actions lead to big changes. The compost discoveries (including a few surprises!) reminded us that even mistakes become learning opportunities.

Community, Care & Future Planning

With the support of staff and the wider community, we've taken important steps toward designing future seasonal projects. The autumn planting cycle has begun, with student-led ideas driving what goes into the ground next. Strawberries were the favorite. 

All our hard work supports the Resource Smart Schools Program, reinforcing our school’s broader sustainability goals around energy, waste, water, and biodiversity. 

Thank you to our staff, students, and families for supporting our initiatives throughout Term 1. Your encouragement and everyday actions help us build a greener, more informed school community. We look forward to continuing this work in Term 2 with more planting, more composting, and more student-led change.

Warm regards,

Simone Cheslett

Sustainability Coordinator