There have been many benefits for New Gisborne Primary School since becoming a 5 star school. Some are:
• They have recently received support from their local rotary group, garden supplies centre and more fund raising from PFA is being dedicated to the sustainable schools program.
• Schools in the district are asking to come and see what they have to offer as well as been invited to neighbouring schools to assist in getting them started in the sustainable schools program.
• They have received more media coverage in the local area.
• There has been an increase in staff coming on board and there is more feedback and interest in projects from staff around the school.
The school has implemented many initiatives since becoming involved in the Sustainable Schools program;
• They have set up a very comprehensive intranet of resources that staff continually build on
• A scope and sequence chart has been developed showing the activities across all year levels ensuring each of the four areas (waste, energy, water and biodiversity) are covered. Students and staff are reminded of each of the four areas with a week of celebration.
• An example of a week of celebration is energy week. During the week different points about energy are discussed each day with different activities around the topic occurring in the classrooms.
• They have set up a very comprehensive intranet of resources that staff continually build on
• A scope and sequence chart has been developed showing the activities across all year levels ensuring each of the four areas (waste, energy, water and biodiversity) are covered. Students and staff are reminded of each of the four areas with a week of celebration.
• An example of a week of celebration is energy week. During the week different points about energy are discussed each day with different activities around the topic occurring in the classrooms.
• The school has recently purchased and installed a new water tank out side the art room to reduce flooding of the flat roof. The water will be used to assist in watering new gardens.
• SFM, a radio station, is held just before the lunch bell on Friday’s. The program continually reminds students of up and coming events (eg Energy week), weather details so students can come prepared (eg layers) and giving sustainable tips (eg bringing lunch in a re-usable container). It also prevents rubbish leaving the room as students eat quietly reducing litter leaving the room.
• New Gisborne primary enters into as many competitions and awards as possible which require a prior knowledge before students can successfully complete the task.
• The school successfully received the “Investing in Schools” grant ($148,786.00) – the grant will be used to landscape the courtyard between the new buildings and existing portables.
• Shortly the school will be involved in the Energy Buster and Dr Energy programs along with 4 other schools in the district. New Gisborne will be the guinea pig for this program.
• SFM, a radio station, is held just before the lunch bell on Friday’s. The program continually reminds students of up and coming events (eg Energy week), weather details so students can come prepared (eg layers) and giving sustainable tips (eg bringing lunch in a re-usable container). It also prevents rubbish leaving the room as students eat quietly reducing litter leaving the room.
• New Gisborne primary enters into as many competitions and awards as possible which require a prior knowledge before students can successfully complete the task.
• The school successfully received the “Investing in Schools” grant ($148,786.00) – the grant will be used to landscape the courtyard between the new buildings and existing portables.
• Shortly the school will be involved in the Energy Buster and Dr Energy programs along with 4 other schools in the district. New Gisborne will be the guinea pig for this program.
Teacher Ray Bell says that there are two aspects of being involved in the Sustainable school Initiative that are the most rewarding:
1. Seeing and hearing about parental complaints from home such as “……is a pain at the moment, at home they continually turn the lights off and I keep bumping into things” “…. I get in trouble these days for putting ?????? in the wrong bin” “ I can’t take ???????????? shopping anymore because I get in trouble for buying items with too much packaging” It’s pleasing to hear that what we’re teaching is finally getting home.
2. Enthusiastic students – we have a gardening group who chase me down day in day out to open the shed so that students can weed, sweep and generally tend to gardens throughout the school. It’s given kids who are often without friends a chance to make them as well as given them a purpose.
New Gisborne Primary have seen many excellent results since their involvement in the program;
• Electricity consumption has been reduced by 36%
• Gas use decreased by 10%
• Heating and cooling times reduced while maintaining a comfortable environment
• Computers not left on standby
• Electricity consumption has been reduced by 36%
• Gas use decreased by 10%
• Heating and cooling times reduced while maintaining a comfortable environment
• Computers not left on standby
New Gisborne are not slowing down in their pursuit to become a leading sustainable school. In the month of July alone the school have done the following;
• They have purchased and installed a new water tank out side the art room to reduce flooding of the flat roof. The water will be used to assist in watering new gardens.
• They have entered into the EPA banner competition – all banners will be displayed in Fed Square in late September.
• Successfully received the “Investing in Schools” grant ($148,786.00) – the grant will be used to landscape the courtyard between the new buildings and existing portables. Murray Tebble is anticipating starting in August.
• Asked for assistance from the Vodaphone Greening Australia team – a team of volunteers who will assist in the mass planting of the grounds as a part of the investing in schools grant.
• Applied for the Australian Heritage water fund – NGPS has submitted an application asking for $50,000 to install water tanks to collect water off the new buildings and buildings to come. The submission also includes a new watering system for the oval. Check out www.kisswatering.com
• Applied for the ABC gardens for kids grant ($5000) which will assist in providing funding for more developed class gardens and redevelop our outdoor classroom.
• NGPS – has entered into the Victorian State Schools’ garden competition judges will be judging the school in late September/October. This will require a working bee in mid September closer to the date and class gardens revisited.
• NGPS – will be participating in Planet Arc’s National Tree Planting day on Friday 28th July.
• Continue working with Green Up, Clean up Crew around school grounds. Recently some new equipment was purchased for the group including hand trowels, watering cans and brooms.
• Composting is continuing with the grade two’s collecting compost buckets twice weekly with compost in one bin close to being used.
• The worm farm is now the responsibility of the grade 6’s. Which are looking at maybe selling worms at next years fair.
• NGPS will shortly be involved in the Energy Buster and Dr Energy programs along with 4 other schools in the district. New Gisborne will be the guinea pig for this program.
• They have purchased and installed a new water tank out side the art room to reduce flooding of the flat roof. The water will be used to assist in watering new gardens.
• They have entered into the EPA banner competition – all banners will be displayed in Fed Square in late September.
• Successfully received the “Investing in Schools” grant ($148,786.00) – the grant will be used to landscape the courtyard between the new buildings and existing portables. Murray Tebble is anticipating starting in August.
• Asked for assistance from the Vodaphone Greening Australia team – a team of volunteers who will assist in the mass planting of the grounds as a part of the investing in schools grant.
• Applied for the Australian Heritage water fund – NGPS has submitted an application asking for $50,000 to install water tanks to collect water off the new buildings and buildings to come. The submission also includes a new watering system for the oval. Check out www.kisswatering.com
• Applied for the ABC gardens for kids grant ($5000) which will assist in providing funding for more developed class gardens and redevelop our outdoor classroom.
• NGPS – has entered into the Victorian State Schools’ garden competition judges will be judging the school in late September/October. This will require a working bee in mid September closer to the date and class gardens revisited.
• NGPS – will be participating in Planet Arc’s National Tree Planting day on Friday 28th July.
• Continue working with Green Up, Clean up Crew around school grounds. Recently some new equipment was purchased for the group including hand trowels, watering cans and brooms.
• Composting is continuing with the grade two’s collecting compost buckets twice weekly with compost in one bin close to being used.
• The worm farm is now the responsibility of the grade 6’s. Which are looking at maybe selling worms at next years fair.
• NGPS will shortly be involved in the Energy Buster and Dr Energy programs along with 4 other schools in the district. New Gisborne will be the guinea pig for this program.
