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Sustainability __________________________________Page
In conjunction with the Science Week theme: “Food for our future”, many of our sustainability projects this year were centred on food and planting styles for the future. With an ongoing commitment to improving sustainable practices, reducing waste and thus our carbon footprint, an exciting addition to St Joseph’s College was our new “Future Spark” power generating bikes.
YOUTH IMPETUS AWARDS
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There were many St Joseph’s students at this year’s Youth Impetus Awards on 10 April, it was very encouraging and we were delighted to have several of our Sustainability Leaders nominated for an award. Nominees included; the “Start the Switch” Garden bed project team and Jack Callahan (Year12), for his initiative and leadership of the “Cut the Wrap” Rap “I Like Waste Free Lunches” and promotional video. Jack Callahan was the recipient of the Sustainability Award, receiving a cheque to the value of $500. Congratulations to all students involved for their nomination.
CLAIRVAUX RECYCLING WORKSHOPS
On 30 April, twelve Year 8 sustainability leaders and Ms Jenkins were invited to Clairvaux Primary School to inform the Year 5 and 6 students about the four R’s (reduce, re-use recycle and recover), Fully Comingled Recycling, composting
Bokashi and REDcycling. The students showed a presentation
Compost about how and why we should reduce waste in our
Bins society. They also played various games teaching the students which bin to put certain types of rubbish in. The Clairvaux students took in a lot of helpful information that they hopefully will be able to put it to use and pass it on to future generations.
- Ricky Ivelja, Year 8 ENVIROWEEK
Students embraced the challenges of Enviroweek with great gusto and as a result several new endeavours came to fruition, including; the establishment of an aquaponics tank, a trial experiment on the growth of plants with our bokashi compost and worm farm waste and promotion of “Cut The Wrap” throughout the week.
The new Aquaponics Tank AQUAPONICS TANK
Aquaponics specialist Brendan Boltan (Edible Landscapes), assisted sustainability leaders Zachary Stevenson and Gabriel Hickey with the installation of a new aquaponics tank for D14. Incorporating a fish tank and herb garden, the aquaponics system showcases a more sustainable approach to growing plants, as the fish waste provides the nutrients for the plants to grow. 7D were selected to host the tank, in acknowledgement of their outstanding support of sustainable endeavours throughout the year; in particular, nearly 100% participation for all “Cut The Wrap” days.
COMPOSTING & FERTILISER TRIAL
Under the guidance of Homeroom teacher Mrs Malone, students of 7I have been industrious with their composting initiatives during Term 3, establishing a worm farm and implementing the bokashi compost system. As part of the Enviroweek activities, they also initiated a controlled experiment to compare the growth of strawberry plants using; Bokashi compost waste, worm casting waste and water with no fertiliser.
With mentor Mr Cahir, the Ad Alta boys have been enterprising ‘upcycling’ milk and timber crates, to create barista furniture for their pop-up coffee shop, a theme which is trending all over Geelong and Melbourne.
WESTCOURT VERTICAL GARDEN BED
On 7 October, Mrs Liz Keck (Activities Officer, Bunnings Waurn Ponds), joined Mr Pillai’s Year 9 Planet Green class, to commence the construction of a Vertical Herb Garden bed (sponsored by Bunnings) at Westcourt. As participants of Planet Ark’s Tree Day project, the vertical garden bed was our third project, following a “refresh” of our Sustainable water station/garden bed and the implementation of an aquaponics tank. On completion, the herb garden will comprise of 32 recycled plastic bottle planter boxes, suspended vertically on wire, all encased in a merbau timber frame.
- Kelly Jenkins, Sustainability Coordinator JANE GOODALL REFLECTION
The sustainability leaders and Year 11 biology students were given the opportunity to attend a symposium at Deakin Costa hall to see the infamous Jane Goodall. Most people would know her from her appearance on the Simpsons but the students able to attend the symposium were given the great chance to hear her speak about her past endeavours and current escapades as an activist. She inspired the audience to think about the environment and what we could do in our own way to help. She motivated the audience to search for the small things that we could easily apply to our lives to preserve our precious Earth.
- Jobe Neal 11F
Recycling workshops at Clairvaux Recycling workshops at Clairvaux ‘Upcycled’ furniture Building the vertical garden bed at Westcourt
