| The opportunity to work
through the process to become a five star school has meant
that Antonio Park Primary School have not only educated their
students but the school community as well.
Their ongoing commitment to helping their environment means
Antonio Park Primary is doing their bit for the environment,
every little bit helps and has built a sense of community.
The recognition for their efforts and identity as a ‘school
to visit, makes them feel proud and special. The schools environmental
leaders are so delighted to take tours and it ‘warms
the heart’ to watch the students ‘show off’
their school to other students and adults. Antonio Park Primary
is also proud of the fact that they are in a unique position
with a remnant bushland area in their school grounds as well
as adjoining parkland and Yarran Dheran reserve in walking
distance – they have been able to use their local resources.
Some of the initiatives that have been undertaken by Antonio
Park primary School while they have been a part of the Sustainable
Schools program are
• The school has integrated sustainability into their
curriculum at every level to ensure that the four areas of
sustainability are covered within a two year cycle.
• An animal program has been set up with chickens and
lambs.
• A wetland and vegetable garden area has been created
beside their activity centre.
• Have installed a 40,000 litre rain water tank.
• Have set up this tank as a tank to toilet system for
the activity centre.
• Set up a nature trail through their remnant bushland.
• Students involved in possum and bird breeding boxes.
• Have environmental activity days where teachers work
in rotational groups with students from every level.
Antonio Park have integrated units of work covering environmental
issues at every level to ensure that the 4 areas of sustainability
are covered within a 2 year cycle.
Teacher Janet George says that there have been many rewarding
projects that the school has undertaken since being part of
the SSI. Janet says that the schools Animal program has provided
the students and school community with opportunities to care
for farm animals as well as observing the life cycles of chickens
and lambs. We have families who volunteer to look after the
hens and sheep on a daily basis. They have an official ‘key
hand-over’ at school assembly and get to keep any eggs
that are laid. One of our most moving times, Janet says was
when Shirl, their sheep was giving birth to her second set
of twins at school. Unfortunately neither Shirl nor her lambs
survived. The students and school community went through the
grieving process and they have a lovely memorial to Shirl
at the back of the oval.
Antonio Park received a Stormwater grant which enabled them
to provide a working example of what can be done with rainwater.
They created their wetland and vegetable garden area beside
their Activity Centre. The storm water from this building
fills the wetland and rain from the Hall fills a 40,000 litre
tank which is used to water the vegetable garden, orchard
animal water trough and the tank to toilet system in the Activity
Centre. These areas are used in the curriculum on a regular
basis.
In 2005 Antonio Park Primary began their Nature trail through
remnant bushland. Level 4 classes planned a unit of work in
conjunction with the Innovations and Excellence program. This
unit involves school areas as well as local parks. The children
were involved in building possum and bird breeding boxes.
The school community constructed seating areas and installed
tables made from recycled plastic as work areas. At the moment
the school are planning to remove weeds and replant to encourage
butterflies into this area. This nature trail has provided
a unique area for classes to observe nature at work!
Another great buzz for Antonio Park was being nominated for
the United Nations school award in recognition of their work
in the sustainable schools program and environmental education.
A regular activity at Antonio Park are the Environmental Activity
days where they work in rotational groups with students from
every level. The students work with different teachers and
complete various activities with an environmental focus. It
has always been enjoyed by staff and students as Antonio Park
Primary is proud of their Environmental Leaders who nominate
themselves for selection in their classes because they have
an interest in environmental issues. It is wonderful to watch
these children grow in confidence as they take school tours
around and discuss the impact we have on the environment.
Part of the school building program involved relocating old
classrooms from another school and refurbishing the building
as their own school hall – their recycled building.
This process saved thousands of dollars and is an alternative
to new construction.
There have been many and obvious results from these amazing
activities:
• Water consumption in the school has gone down significantly,
creating big savings for the school.
• Students learn about the cycle of life and death by
interacting with the farm animals.
• The school has achieved a 20% reduction in their energy
use.
• A saving of 7 tonnes of CO2 emissions has been achieved.
• The school has been nominated for the United Nations
school award in recognition of their work in the Sustainable
Schools Program and environmental education.
Antonio Park Primary have many plans for the future. They
would like to complete their Nature Trail butterfly garden
project along with working towards being accredited as a Land
for Wildlife area. The school would like to maintain their
links with local community groups and council who look after
the adjoining parks.
Antonio Park received a Federal grant to upgrade the oval
area which will include an underground water tank to enable
an irrigation system to be installed.
The final stage of rebuilding will begin this year and the
plans provide for tank to toilet systems as well as energy
efficient lighting and heating designs.
More
info.
For more information about the school contact Janet
George on 9874 4371, email antonio.park.ps@edumail.vic.gov.au
or go to the Antonio Park PS website at http://www.antoniops.vic.edu.au.
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