Sustainability

Romsey Ecotherapy Park visit

Romsey's Ecotherapy Park was a huge hit! 

Perhaps you and your family have already made a return trip to try out some of the fantastic things there. Although the space out at Anderson's Road won't be the same, the plants at the Ecotherapy Park certainly gave our students an insight into what flora would be needed out there, and what it could look like in mass plantings. They also considered the spaces where people could gather together and how Andersons Road might be developed in the future. Big ideas!

Flora and fauna talk at Anderson's Road

After the Ecotherapy Park at Romsey, the whole school checked out the space to be regenerated on Anderson's Road. They listened to a flora and fauna talk from Tanya Loos from MRSC. Karen Hunt from Newham Landcare and Loretta Leary from Earthwatch 'Kids teaching Kids' were also in attendance (see photo above). Our students spent time exploring the area and looking for the answers to some environmental work they were given.

Planting day at Anderson's Road

Newham Landcare were absolutely amazed at how the adage 'many hands make light work' is true. Our students jumped straight into the task and had the plantings completed within an hour and a half. An awesome effort all round!

Michelle Tripp from Earthwatch 'Kids Teaching Kids', made the trip from Cairns to join us and to see how the project was coming along. Michelle arrived early at school and loaded her car with all our equipment, demonstrating great hands-on support from our funding body for the project. Emma Stevens, our Junior Landcare Facilitator also joined us for a short time to see the progress of the Anderson's Road site. Unfortunately, members from the Woodend Men's Shed were unable to attend on the planting day, as they are still creating some special 'bush seats' for the site for weary cyclists or visitors to sit at Andersons Road and view the Hanging Rock, the Camel's Hump and Mount Macedon. We look forward to seeing the informal seating once it's installed.

It's been great to work with all the different people and groups, and for our students to learn from other adults in the community. As Tanya Loos pointed out, the children can watch the plants grow over the years and know that they contributed to creating a fantastic habitat as part of the Cobaw Biolink, which runs from The Macedon Regional Park through to the Cobaw Ranges. (The link above will take you to a short video about the Coabaw Biolink)

Thank you to the parents who attended either/both Romsey Ecotherapy Park and the flora and fauna talk, and the Anderson's Road planting day, and supported our students; Chris Wiseman, Peter Brown, Karlie Goodison, Bec Ager and Leighan Owen.

School creek planting day has been postponed 

Planting on the creek in our school grounds (18 May) has been postponed  so that the preparation work by the spraying team/ biodiversity consultant can take effect. We have rescheduled this planting afternoon to to Thursday 1 June at 2.30 pm. We hope that you can join us.

Kitchen Garden is ready for the Winter season

Last week the 2/3 and 3/4 classes weeded, fed, mulched and planted out the school kitchen garden. Jo Thompson supervised and selected suitable plants for the colder months and that could be used in our kitchen program come harvest time. Thanks for your guidance Jo and for helping us and supporting the students Bec Ager. 

Also, a special shout out to BUNNINGS for donating, Dynamic Lifter, lime, mulch and seedlings. So appreciated.

Sustainability leaders leading

A team from Sustainability Victoria and our ResourcSmart facilitator, Debbie Rovere, visited the school as part of our ongoing 5-star school status. One of their tasks was to speak with the students to find out about sustainability at Newham Primary School. The sustainability leaders did an amazing job of explaining many of the sustainability initiatives that our school has in place, followed by taking the team on a tour around the school, pointing out our solar system, rain water tanks, kitchen garden, compost station and the biodiversity Learning hub with its nest boxes, weather station and indigenous plantings.

Earlier that morning, the sustainability leaders worked with Chris Wiseman who reconstructed our main compost bin by the sports shed (Thanks Chris!). This is now ready for organic scraps from classrooms (minus the green bags). The sustainability leaders also worked with sustainability teacher Libby Fullard, revamping and improving our compost area, which is now located up in the kitchen garden area. 

Well done sustainability leaders!