Coatesville Primary School
In 2010 Coatesville Primary School has begun its 5 star journey with the ResourceSmart AuSSI Vic program. Staff and student Green Teams have been established and both are very active.
Representatives from the student Green Team attended a LESS (Leaders in Environmentally Sustainable Schools) workshop in Term 2 and devised an Action Plan for the whole school with a focus on waste management.
Waste management initiatives arising from the Action Plan:
- Nude Food – Wrapper Free lunch organized and run by the students in conjunction with World Environment Day. Regular Nude Food days will be introduced.
- Students organized and conducted a poster competition to encourage less rubbish in lunchboxes. Prizes were awarded at all grade levels.
- Recycle tubs to be placed in the school ground for collection of used drink containers
- Food scraps to be collected from classrooms and staffroom for composting
- Tub to be placed outside the sustainability area for collection of food scraps.
- Supplier to be sought for refillable ink cartridges
- The school to be involved in joint community projects involving waste
- Considering a deposit scheme for icy pole wrappers
- Battery recycling
In conjunction with these initiatives the school has established various waste management systems which will be ongoing:
- The weekly newsletter is now emailed to the majority of households and as a result there has been a 30% reduction in the amount of paper previously used for printing.
- Paper recycling bins in each classroom and office
- Litter assessments
- Student council litter roster
- Students outline the school’s Waste Policy for incoming parents at Prep orientation sessions – Nude Food, wrapper free lunches, reusable drink bottles etc.
- Nude Food Days on a regular basis
- Reuse cardboard boxes etc for art activities
- Sell/donate second hand furniture
- Curriculum related to units of inquiry
- Use bleached toilet paper
- Use recyclable cups
- Students encouraged to have reusable drink bottles
- Printers set to default double-sided
- No food on the oval to reduce waste in that area
- Scrap paper boxes in all classrooms
Representatives from the staff Green Team have been attending the Glen Eira GRUBS (GReen Urban Bettter Schools) teacher environment network meetings on a regular basis.
Water Conservation
Coatesville PS was part of the Community Water Grant project. The capital works undertaken were:
- 41 Flow Control Valves installed
- 3 WC suites upgraded to 4.5/3 litre dual flush
- 2 Urinals retrofitted to ‘No Flush’ urinal systems
- ‘Tank to toilet’ project
Consumption has reduced by 53.7% or 912 kL per year.
We also have installed:
- 2 x 5,000 litre water tanks and 1x 2,000 litre water tank to water garden beds
- containers under water bubblers which students empty onto garden beds when full
The water conservation message is carried into the classroom with a range of Inquiry Learning Units exploring all aspects of water and water conservation. The school has participated in the Learn It Live It program developed by South East Water.
As part of the Building Education Revolution a new wing of the school is under construction and when complete will have a tank to toilet system and low flow valves included.
Biodiversity
- The school will once again be participating in the National Schools Tree Day by planting and organizing a fundraising event. The fundraiser will offer the school community a chance to bulk purchase native and indigenous plants. This was felt to be a far more sustainable and healthy alternative to the usual chocolate drive.
- The grade 6 students have undertaken a biodiversity audit of the school grounds and this will be used to develop a masterplan once the new building has been completed.
- Biodiversity is included in the curriculum at all levels with a focus on maintaining the interdependent balance of organisms, how human interaction can affect the natural balance and the needs of living things.
Energy
- The school has submitted an application for the National Solar in Schools Program and hopes to install an 8.64 kilowatt system latter in the year
- Each class has Power Rangers responsible for turning off lights, heaters, air conditioners and computers when they are not being used
- Classrooms have clear signage – switch off lights and close doors
- Standby and shutdown regime for computers
- Walk on Wednesday Program involving students and parents
- Walking excursions where possible
- Ride 2 School to be introduced
- Curriculum is included at all levels which explores our use of finite resources, renewable technologies and food kilometers
The school has a vision and set targets in order to reduce its consumption of electricity, gas and water, create less waste and increase biodiversity. Our subscription to the SETS (School Environmental Tracking System) enables ongoing, accurate data to record our progress.
Coatesville is providing real-world opportunities for students to develop skills and knowledge about sustainability and the environment, share ideas with others and create a sustainable culture.
School Resources
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added on 01st November 2010
Coatesville Primary School Contact Details
Sue Clowes
9570 1652
21 Mackie Road
Bentleigh East, VIC, 3165Australia
Location
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News
on April 26th, 2012
Environmental Network of Victorian Youth (ENVY)
2012 Renewable Energy Conference
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