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31 MAY, 2022
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Kororoit Creek Primary School year 6 pupils Ilani and Nuwan with teacher Hannah Simmons. (Damjan Janevski). 281955_04
A Melton school is getting savvy with sustainability by participating in a national recycling challenge to help protect the environment. Kororoit Creek Primary School is joining the Big Battery Rescue, designed to help schools learn how to recycle batteries with a free education program. The challenge is run by The National Theatre for Children and Stockland property group and participating schools receive free recycling kits, an educational program which includes live-in-school and livestream educational theatre performances by professional actors and the chance to win cash prizes by recycling batteries. Kororoit Creek Primary School learning specialist Hannah Simmons said pupils had participated remotely during lockdown and recycled 50 kilograms in batteries last year, but were excited to be able to join in person. “They just get a really big kick out of knowing that they’re making a difference and … bringing in batteries, counting them, talking to their friends about it, talking to their teacher about it,” Ms Simmons said.
School funding cut pain By Olivia Condous A school principal has called out the previous federal government after funding cuts have seen student waitlists skyrocket with the boom of the western growth corridor. Bacchus Marsh Grammar principal Andrew Neal said changes made to federal funding for schools introduced by the Morrison government in 2020 was the main reason the school wasn’t able to take more students. Mr Neal said there were significant waitlists at all year levels at the school, particularly at
prep and year seven. “The number of spots for new students doesn’t equate to the number of people who are looking for spots,” he said. “For prep, where we’re interviewing for 100 students … and we have 600 kids on the waiting list.” Mr Neal said there was an obvious need for new school spots and more funding was critical for schools to build in regional growth corridors. “That change in federal funding has basically meant that we’re not prepared to put on much more additional capacity.”
On social media, dozens of Bacchus Marsh residents vented their frustration on the lack of local secondary schools. Ash Khilani moved his family to Maddingley so that his son could attend Bacchus Marsh Grammar, but he’s been on the waitlist since April 2018. “Every parent has a dream of having their kids go to a good school, we have been saving money for my son’s tuition because we wanted him to go to the school,” Mr Khilani said. “We are here and trying to give him the best education. But we’re still waiting. I don’t know
what to do.” A department of education spokesperson said the amount of funding provided to schools was a set amount for each enrolled student. “Additional loadings are provided for disadvantaged schools and for students that require additional support, such as students with a disability or Indigenous students,” the spokesperson said. “The Commonwealth does not operate schools, and it is a matter for individual schools or school system authorities to determine how many enrolments they offer.”
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