Sustainability News

This month is Poorneet season, the Tadpole season according to Wurundjeri culture.Students have been learning about frog life cycles, photosynthesis, the moon cycle, and ladybird life cycles—all while delivering new soil to the veggie patches and sowing summer seeds like pumpkin, tomato, and lettuce.

The chickens have a new nesting coop, and a special thanks goes to Chris Knott for putting it together for them.

This month, students have also enjoyed observing changes in bird behaviour during the nesting period. Lily discovered an Indian Myna’s nest outside the Grade 5/6 classrooms (see photo).

Here are some events and competitions that were shared in the recent Resource Smart Schools newsletter:

Boroondara- Spark a change at the 2025 Electrify Your Life Expo. Say goodbye to gas and hello to a smart and efficient home at this free community event. Whether you’re a homeowner or renter, a student, empty-nester or a family household with children, there’s something for everyone. There’ll also be activities for children and food and drinks to refuel between events. Find out more and register for updates on the event website: Expo25 — Electrify Boroondara. If your school would like to promote the expo, you can find the media kit here- Electrify Your Life Expo 2025 Communications Kit — Electrify Boroondara

Biketober in Boroondara. Biketober is a fun, friendly competition to get more students, parents and staff travelling actively to school, by walking, bus, biking, or scooting. We invite your school to take part in this month-long challenge. Schools don’t need to register. You just need to upload their walk/bike data each week by scanning a QR code You could win a $1,000 sports equipment voucher for your school.

Protect the Platypus this September!  Loopy litter like rubber bands, hair ties, fishing line, and string can be deadly for platypuses. Take action this September!  Seize it: Pick up litter—what’s dropped on the ground ends up in our rivers and creeks.  Snip it: Cut any rings or loops, like hair ties or rubber bands, before disposal to reduce the risk of entanglement.  Bin it: Dispose of litter correctly to stop it from reaching our waterways.  September is a crucial time for platypuses in Victoria - it’s their breeding season! As platypuses are out searching for mates, they become even more vulnerable to the dangers of litter in their environment.  Let’s make a difference during this important time – Seize it, Snip it, Bin it to protect the platypus!

Melbourne Biodiversity Blitz. A biodiversity (or bio) blitz is an event that focuses on finding and identifying as many wild species as possible in a specific area over a specified period of time. How to participate:

• Find out more here Biodiversity Blitz 2025 - Melbourne · iNaturalist Australia
• Download the iNaturalist app on your phone or create an account at iNaturalist.ala.org.au
• Take photos of flora and fauna between 1st and 30th September and upload them to iNaturalist. 
• Boroondara - Great Southern Bioblitz (October)/ Whitehorse -  Biodiversity blitz (September)

Competitions

The Coles and Planet Ark Sustainable Schools Competition is back for 2025! The competition will once again award 20 Aussie schools $5,000 each, to give students the chance to turn their innovative sustainability ideas into action. Entries close September 30, 2025. Find out more here.

Schools Pollinator Art Competition. The Schools Pollinator Art Competition invites students across Australia to celebrate pollinators through art. Students can submit original artworks in any medium, including drawing, painting, digital, collage or mixed media. Prizes will be awarded for the best artwork inspired by pollinators. The 2025 Schools Pollinator Art Competition will open on Monday 1st September 2025 and close Sunday 26 October, 5pm. Find out more here.