Sustainability

Earthwatch Kids Teaching Kids Grant

Newham Primary School has been accepted into the Earthwatch Kids Teaching Kids (KTK) program for 2023 and are being funded to participate in a community-based action project with a grant of $3000! 

Newham PS has been involved in KTK for the past three years with virtual presentations and attendance at the annual KTK conferences in 2020 and 2021, and as workshop presenters at the KTK Macedon Ranges Distinct Area Landscapes (DAL) conference at Hanging Rock in 2022.

Newham PS students presenting at the 2022 KTK DAL Conference at Hanging Rock

The Victorian Distinctive Areas and Landscapes program aims to engage schools and the community in protection of the environmentally and culturally significant spaces ‘at their front door’. Funded by the Victorian Government’s Distinctive Areas and Landscapes Capital Grants Program, Kids Teaching Kids is working with local environmental stakeholders to provide teachers and students with immersive teaching and learning opportunities in four distinct areas: Macedon Ranges, Bass Coast, Surf Coast and Bellarine Peninsula.

https://www.earthwatch.org.au/distinctive-areas-and-landscapes

The 2023 project will align with DAL Planning Policy domains:

• Aboriginal cultural heritage 
• Environment and biodiversity
• Landscapes
• Environmental risks and resilience
• Water quality and security
• Historic heritage
• Tourism, agriculture and natural resources
• Strategic infrastructure
• Settlements.

 The aim of the action project is for our grade 5-6 Newham PS students to make a significant impact through a project that addresses an environmental issue, and to provide them with an opportunity to communicate their student voice about this issue to the broader community. 

Look out for an announcement in coming newsletters as to which local organisation Newham PS will partner with and the exciting project that the students will participate in.

Department of Education Filming at Newham PS

The Department of Education has recently developed an Environmental Sustainability in Schools Policy. During 2022, Newham PS was involved in a consultation process about sustainable education in schools, and as a result has been invited, as one of numerous schools, to be filmed for a video.  The video will act as a professional development resource to illustrate how schools can implement the kinds of activities that the Policy aims to promote.

A small group of grade 6 students will be filmed at Newham PS learning about Wurundjeri cultural knowledge relevant to Country on which our school stands. In 2022 Newham PS consulted with the Wurundjeri Woi-wurrung Cultural Heritage Aboriginal Cooperation and have been given permission to use this cultural knowledge at our school. 

Lomandra Longifolia used to weave baskets Source: Australian National Botanic Gardens

A professional videographer will attend next Wednesday and work with the students, directing them and capturing footage. The presenter for our filming will be our own school community’s Sharni Page! We are proud to be able to be a part of the promotion of sustainable education in schools.