St Georges Road Primary School became interested in the Sustainable Schools Program whilst completing the Waste Wise Program.

All classrooms at the school have embraced the Waste Wise philosophy and the three bin system (recyclables, waste and food scraps/ compost). All paper is used on both sides before recycling and photocopying is kept to a minimum. The compost goes to the kitchen garden, where it is used to feed the worms and make compost for the garden beds (pictured). As the kitchen gardens have developed, groups of children have been digging and planting the garden with vegetables, herbs and fruit trees. The children learn about the life cycle of plants, the links between waste (particularly compost), water and living things – worms, birds and plants. In 2004 this was extended into the canteen as the kitchen garden began producing food for children’s lunches. Cooking will also be introduced so children learn the connections from growing produce in the garden to food being served on the table.

Many children have developed compost, worm farms and gardens at home as a direct spin-off from their work at school, thus taking the message home and to the wider community.

2002 saw the beginning of the worst drought in history in the Goulburn Valley. The Goulburn Valley area has a large agricultural and horticultural industry based on irrigation. Water perhaps had been taken for granted in the past. It was therefore decided that it was time to educate the community about the importance of water conservation through the students. St Georges Rd primary recognize that they live in a continent that is the driest inhabited continent and it is therefore important for us to conserve water. They recognize that water is a very valuable resource.

St Georges Rd have been accredited as the first Waterwise school in Victoria under the Western Australian Water Corporation being supported by Goulburn Valley Water and City of Greater Shepparton.

Some of things that have impacted on the school via this program are:
• Water is a component in the curriculum.
• Children research water tips to be announced at assembly and published in the newsletter.
• Asphalt is swept, never hosed down
• Water efficient plants are being planted in the gardens
gardens are mulched
• Taps and sprinklers are monitored for leaks
Our involvement in these two programs led us to becoming involved in the Sustainable Schools program with CERES. This has involved:
• Children eat significantly more fruit, as there is no waste allowed. A compost system has been established to fertilise the gardens
• Children’s heightened awareness of recycling, reducing and minimising waste and the impact of this follows on to their families
• Reduced waste and litter using a three bin system, eating inside and compost.
• Water efficient plants have been planted and gardens are mulched.
• Taps and sprinklers are monitored for leaks.
• PD’s for staff through CERES.
• Ensuring that lights in their classrooms are turned off at recess and lunch.
• Heater pilot lights are turned off for the holidays.
• Extra shade cloth and draught sealing is being implemented.

Some of the results that have been achieved from these initiatives are;
• The clean away skip is emptied once a term compared with twice a week, greatly reducing costs to the school.
• Paper consumption has been reduced by over 1000 reams since the schools involvement with the Sustainable Schools Program.
• Water consumption has been greatly reduced.
• Energy use has been reduced by a massive 25%
• Over 177 tonnes of CO2 have been saved through Green Electricity purchases.

“The exciting thing about this program is that it involves the whole school, can impact on the wider community and is teaching our students how to improve and conserve our environment – a must in the 21st Century” said Principal Jan Gregory.