Warburton Primary School has become only the second school in Yarra Ranges to receive silver accreditation for the Water – Learn it! Live it! water conservation education program, and has already set its sights on gaining gold accreditation later this year.
Yarra Valley Water Managing Director, Tony Kelly, congratulated Warburton Primary School on its terrific achievement and said he said he hoped the school’s water conservation efforts would inspire other schools in the community.
‘Climate change is here to stay and so we must teach our children as early as possible that water is a precious resource that should not be wasted.
‘Warburon Primary School is a prime example of how water conservation can be implemented into the curriculum with outstanding results, and we look forward to continuing to work closely together to help them achieve gold accreditation,’ said Mr Kelly.
The Water – Learn it! Live it! (Water LILI) program provides teachers with resources to develop fun and interesting ways to integrate water conservation into their teachings. This free program was developed by Yarra Valley Water and Melbourne’s other water utilities to teach students from years Prep to 10 about water conservation.
Warburton Primary School teacher and Sustainability Coordinator, Sheri Postill, praised students for their dedication to the Water LILI program.
‘Our water education program has been integrated through all areas of the curriculum and the students have all worked hard at minimising water use, which has been complemented by the installation of dual flush toilets and water tank,’ Ms Postill said.
‘Parents have also been on board and we now boast a thriving community garden in our grounds.
‘We all know the costs of drought and realise, after having experienced one of the worst in our history, how precious a resource water is. Warburton Primary School “Love and Live Water” and have been proud to be associated with the Water LILI program.’
Ms Postill said the school was currently undergoing major renovation works, complete with water and energy efficient fittings, and was progressing well to reach the final step in the Water LILI program and secure its gold accreditation.
Yarra Valley Water has employed Jenny Hiller, a qualified primary and secondary school teacher, to assist schools within its service area to commit to and complete key components of the Water – Learn it! Live it! program.
To find out more about the Water – Learn it! Live it! program, schools should contact: Yarra Valley Water Education Officer, Jenny Hiller, on 9872 1671.
Taken fromhttp://www.yvw.com.au/Home/Aboutus/news/Educationnews/CongratulationsWarburton/index.htm
