LEADERS OF SUSTAINABILITY

TOMORROWS LEADERS OF SUSTAINABILITY PROGRAM

In Term 3, we received a grant for $5000 from the EcoCentre in StKilda to participate in the Tomorrows Leaders of Sustainability program. We had an overwhelming number of applicants and 24 students were selected via an interview process. The program ran every Tuesday morning throughout the Term facilitated by Karen from the EcoCentre and Ms Millar. The program is designed for secondary students to explore the key issues of sustainability, while gaining knowledge and skills to become leaders in their chosen career.

The students started with building teamwork and communication skills, with a variety of fun activities, workshops and reflections. We then explored what leadership was, how it felt and how it can be demonstrated. The focus was then on our local community and natural environment, learning about the ecology within Long Hollow Heathland. We were fortunate to have Gio Fitzpatrick, the award-winning Youth Wildlife Ambassador join us and share with us his knowledge and expertise, particularly in bird calls and signals which the kids loved. Engaging with local friends’ groups was then initiated with Friends of Native Wildlife's Dennis Young and Elizabeth Walsh giving a tour of the Tulip Street pond area and discussing the frog and bird habitat with us. From this experience we have formed a great working relationship with Friends of Native Wildlife and they have been instrumental in offering their expertise to develop and bring authenticity to our BEST program.

The final part of the program was for the students to develop and implement a student-driven environmental project around the school. The group decided that building an outdoor classroom between our wetland and heathland would benefit the student community for years to come. We have started preparing the site by identifying our area and removing some of the Coastal Wattle which is a weed in the heathland. The Leaders then worked in small groups to research and design an outdoor classroom that will suit the area and meet the needs of a whole Learning Team. They had to consider what materials were suitable and where they would be sourced from. Each group then presented their work to a panel using their public speaking and leadership skills learnt from their experience with the program. We are very grateful to Karen for working with us and giving our students this opportunity.

The following students are to be congratulated for participating in the program:

Chloe Johnson

Lauchlan Droscher

Nathan Palmer

Max Reaburn

Tahlia DeFazio

Bianca Mafodda

Ewan McAlpine

Spencer Marshall

Charlie Evans

Eva Beaumont-Angus

Kyla Avontuur