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LANDCARE AWARD FOR ST. FRANCIS XAVIERSt. Francis Xavier Primary School, Ballarat East received a‘Certificate of Recognition’ for outstanding contributions to Landcarein Corangamite’ at the Regional Landcare Awards.St. Francis Xavier School continues to work towards creating aschool setting that educates the school and wider community aboutenvironmental sustainability. Children at the school are directlyinvolved in the management of several project areas or‘Learnscapes’ as they are known at the school. The latestdevelopment being a Community Kitchen Garden incorporatingvegetable gardens, chook pens, hothouse, shade house and pond.The school is happy to share its journey with others. Most recently,seventeen students from St. Malachy’s School Edenhope visitedwhile on camp in Ballarat.The award is recognition of the work that has been done while at thesame time a reminder of the work that still needs to be done. Constantenergy and enthusiasm is required to maintain an environment that trulydoes educate our students in environmentally sustainable practices thatwill stay with them for life. Working with organisations such as Landcareand the Catchment Management Authority has kept the school in touchwith people who are passionate about the environment and willing toshare their expertise.Tony PerkinsPrincipalPUPILS BEGIN TO SETTLE INof a classroom”.A New Catholic primary school with a design far removedfrom a traditional classroom setting opened in Ballaratyesterday. Emmaus Primary School pupils yesterday walkedfrom the school’s temporary location in Jones Avenue to thenew school in Geelong Road. Principal Brendan Maher saidplanning for the school began in 2006 to provide a Catholicpresence in the Mt Clear, Mt Helen and Buninyong areas.The school opened at the temporary location in the groundsof Damascus College Ballarat with just 25 children last yearand has since grown to 75 pupils. Another 38 preps havealso been confirmed for next year.The new school has bean bags scattered about thecommunal space known as a “learning mall” and wirelessinternet access throughout. There is also a kitchen and largedecking area in the building which was designed with a focuson modern teaching practices. “We have tried deliberately tochallenge some of the contemporary thinking that has beenaround and come up with a model of education that works forus,” Mr. Maher said, “Rather than having kids in the four wallsParents and friends accompanied the pupils for the start of their first day at the new school yesterday. Mt Clear residentMichelle Leonard is a parent of twins who are in prep at the school. She yesterday described the new building as “fantastic”. “Ijust love how bright and vibrant it is”, she said. Mrs. Leonard said she and her husband had wanted to give their children aCatholic education. Meanwhile, the school’s pupils were also enjoying the extra space. Grade 5 pupil Alice Monkman said theschool was “really cool”. “I like how the classrooms are very big and there’s a lot of spaces,” she said.Article courtesy of “The Ballarat Courier” July 15 2009, by Cathy MorrisPhoto courtesy of Damascus College Ballarat & Leon Beaton