Learning with a sustainable focus
SET between Swan Bay and Port Phillip Heads, St Aloysius Primary School is situated in a pristine natural environment, one the school’s students and teachers are determined to preserve.
Principal Fiona Dawson said this year the school will further work on its impact on the environment with outdoor learning and a strong focus on sustainability.
“In recent years a significant focus has been placed on science and environmental science with a goal of instilling in our students a deep understanding of how our world works and to build upon their natural dispositions of inquiry,” she said.
“Our outdoor learning program gives the students real life experiences in sustainable education.
“Our focus on sustainability recognises the interconnectedness and interdependence of life on our planet, and acknowledges that we are responsible for each other and the earth, our common home.
“Being a Catholic school, we understand that our universe is a gift from God and that we have an obligation to act in a way that ensures future generations can live sustainably on our planet Earth.”
Ms Dawson said the school was working to reduce its ecological footprint by adopting sustainable practices in the students’ everyday lives.
The school participates in Sustainability Victoria’s ResourceSmart program and was awarded a $2000 grant for its Love Food Hate Waste initiative last year.
The whole-school, curriculum-focused initiative, run in term three last year, included activities to promote waste management strategies in the school.
Students and staff learnt how to change their approach to food processes, including shopping habits, food preparation, meal portions and waste management, through information and demonstration.
The program also included school families through household surveys.
The Sustainability Victoria grant assisted with a compost bin that is in its construction phase, container labelling and the publication of a student-developed recipe and hints book, which is due to be finalised.
The student environmental team continues to provide the school community with weekly updates in assemblies and on the newsletter highlighting the reduction in waste.
They also measure weekly waste levels and collect ongoing data.
The school has also established partnerships with the Marine Discovery Centre and the Two Bays project, Bellarine Catchment, Tarangoa Blue Australian Marine Debris Initiative, and Zoos Victoria.
“We are leading the way in becoming a school of excellence in science and sustainability,” Ms Dawson said.
“The children love learning about local habitats and the environment.
“The children at St Aloysius have a real passion for their local environment and it is demonstrated by their commitment to sustainability education.”