Newsletter Mount Eliza Secondary College

HANDS ON THE ENVIRONMENT
Year 12 VCAL students at the College have focused on
the theme of sustainability this year, with the
emphasis on the need to reduce, reuse and recycle. It
is fitting that after a year of studying sustainability in
the environment that they have been named as State
finalists in the Active Schools section of the Resource
Smart Victoria Awards.
Amongst the programmes that they have instituted is
the monthly Home Harvest Event on the last Friday of
the month at the College. They provide a welcoming
venue for anyone in the community to swap excess
produce and homemade preserves that they might
have for other foods and supplies that others might
have.
Under the Earthwatch-TeachWild Programme the
students have been trained by the CSIRO in beach
monitoring for marine debris and now record readings
of debris washed up on Canadian Bay Beach, as part of
a worldwide study. Their Teacher, Susan Bollard attended a 7 day training course during the holidays at North Stradbroke
Island hosted by the University of Queensland and the CSIRO to further develop her professional skills in this area.
The students have been teaching their unit “Plastic Not Fantastic as Marine Debris” under the Australia Post Kids Teaching
Kids sponsorship and most recently delivered this to all grade 5 and 6 students at Kunyung Primary School and to all of the
Year 7 students in the College. This brings the total number of students taught by the year 12’s to well over 350.
The VCAL students have gained a lot of recognition this year for their initiatives, including being named of Australian
Secondary School of the Year for their environmental work by Canon Australia with a prize of $5,000 of photographic
equipment. They were also State Finalists in the Keep Australia Beautiful Tidy Towns Awards in two sections. Although we
didn’t win, our students were thrilled with reaching the finals in such a prestigious event. Representatives attended the
State dinner on behalf of the College.
The College has been successful in gaining funding for VCAL students in 2013 to undertake the Resource Smart Victoria
Biodiversity Module, thanks to Sustainability Victoria. The Gould League are helping CERES deliver ResourceSmart AuSSI Vic
in the Southern Metro Region and this will mean that we are on our way to achieving our first star for the College in this
programme.
The Year 12 VCAL class of 2013 have already started work on one of the projects for next year, the development and
rehabilitation of the remnant bush at the rear of the college adjoining Mount Eliza Way. Year 11 students, Liam Rafeld and
Thomas Hartley attended a Professional Development activity at the Gould League recently to undertake training as part of
the “Students Futurescaping Schools Programme”. The College was fortunate to gain acceptance into this programme,
funded by DEECD, which provides support from experienced Gould League Staff over a twelve month period to develop or
enhance a wild scape habitat.
Students will use inquiry-based strategies for planning, building and maintaining their garden, and work to engage the
whole school community in supporting and celebrating their success. The program also supports the whole school
community in environmental management planning, integrating sustainability into the curriculum and linking to
government initiatives to ensure that the garden can be maintained long after program completion.
As the current Year 12 Team VCAL graduate this week they will take with them a strong understanding of the value of
teamwork and the role that they can play in improving their environment.
KEEP AUSTRALIA BEAUTIFUL- TIDY TOWNS DINNER
Susan Bollard, Danielle Crapper, Chelsea Price Dan Walls.
Toby Bae , Susan Bollard, Bronte Seager, Haden Whitelaw, Zoe Evans,
Sam Christie Samantha Clarke
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