We had a great turn out at each of our Progress workshops this term. These full day workshops allow teachers to focus on ResourceSmart Schools and to network and share ideas with each other. A professional development session is included as part of the day, and a tour of the host school to further inspire. We always receive great feedback from teachers, and it’s great to see schools progress closer to certification of their next module and/or Star as a result of attending.
The Northern workshop was hosted by St. Monica’s College in Epping. The Sustainability Coordinator Rachel Zammit recreated the CERESly Amazing Race, adapting it for their school. Students facilitated and ran the game, and it was a great way for participants to check out many of the school’s sustainability feature in place of the usual site tour. St. Monica’s College has an amazing wetlands, and the participants took part in the school’s wetlands activity. St. Monica’s College invites other schools to bring along students along for this activity as an excursion. Rachel Zammit, sustainability coordinator at the school can be contacted on r.zammit@stmonicas-epping.com .
This term’s Eastern workshop was hosted by Auburn South Primary School in Hawthorn East. Highlights of the day included the school site tour, and enjoying lunch outside in the school’s kitchen garden. In the afternoon some Grade 5 students came into the room to interview teachers from the other schools for ideas about projects they could implement at the school. Lots of great ideas were gathered, and the students had a chance to see what their teachers Emily and Hannah were getting up to as hosts of the Progress workshop.
Cornish College in Bangholme hosted the Southern workshop this term. It was wonderful to walk around the open, green space of the college and hear from staff including grade 1 teacher Sam Millar. Here’s a link to an article Sam has written on how connecting children to their land provides authentic inquiry learning. Other highlights included a presentation by the school’s Deputy Principal Nicola Forrest. Nicola is also the recent winner of Environment Education Victoria’s Excellence Award for the formal education sector. Carmela Theobald from leading ResourceSmart School, St. Macartan’s Parish Primary School, also shared lots of ideas for other teachers to take back to their school.
Dates for Term 4 Progress workshops have been confirmed for the following dates and run from 9am-4pm:
Councils will also be invited to these workshops to share and promote any programs and resources available to schools. This will also give teachers an opportunity to meet their council contact to ask any questions and provide any feedback about the school services available.
