ENVIRONMENT AND SUSTAINABILITY

NEW YEAR 9 COMMUNITY ACTION PROGRAM

In 2017 an Environment and Sustainability course has been added to the Year 9 Community Action Program. Students in this program will investigate the local environment and improve ecological health through activities such as Northern Pacific Seastar clean up, tree planting, water monitoring and vegetation maintenance.

On Friday 10th February we visited Ecolinc to participate in a number of activities to learn about the Western Volcanic Plains grasslands. Students completed an Amazing Race around the grasslands, answering questions at each station about the grassland ecosystem. In the laboratory, students discussed abiotic factors that influence grassland plants and animals and conducted experiments to determine how soil type and climatic conditions impact the community. Tests included sunlight, air temperature, wind speed, wind direction, humidity, soil temperature and soil moisture. In the afternoon students modelled food webs and energy flow.

We plan to use this information to further develop the grasslands habitat and pond at the Environmental Science Centre back at school.

Michelle Sanders - Sustainability coordinator

PEDAL POWER MOONLIGHT CINEMA AT FCC

Have you ever sat in a cinema and wondered how much power it took to light up that big screen?

A dedicated group of students and special guests from Footscray City College certainly have and as part of an innovative tribute to Earth Hour we will soon host a pedal power cinema to spin the important sustainability message.

In collaboration with Maribyrnong Council, Footscray City College will invite students, teachers and special guests to get pedalling to help create enough power to screen Hunt for the Wilderpeople on Friday 24 March.

Volunteers will pedal their way through the day and night on specialised bikes to generate enough energy up to power up a full feature movie screening to celebrate Earth Hour’s 10th birthday.

This is a fantastic opportunity to combine a community event with our school sustainability education program.

When businesses and households across the globe will be preparing to flick the switch and turn out the lights as part of Earth Hour the school will be getting ready to light up the sky.

We hope those who join us gain an appreciation of the energy needed to power a small movie event and walk away with ideas to minimise power use at home. Interested peddlers should contact event organiser Michelle Sanders in Science.

The ‘wheely’ good collaboration is part of Council’s commitment to helping create a Carbon Zero community by 2020. To find out ways to reduce your carbon footprint visit their website www.maribyrnong.vic.gov.au

Keep an eye out for registration opportunities coming soon to Eventbrite

Pedal Power Moonlight Cinema

Friday 24 March

Footscray City College

Free community event, refreshments available at cost.

Michelle Sanders - Sustainability coordinator

CARBON FOOTPRINT

Footscray City College's carbon footprint has been reduced following the replacement of 1557 old fluorescent tubes around the school with LED technology. The 40 watt fluoro tubes were replaced with 15 watt LED tubes which will drastically reduce our electricity consumption and therefore our carbon footprint and electricity costs - and make for a brighter building.

Steve Beattie - Facilities Manager