| At Mildura West Primary
School, the students are all too aware of the environmental
problems that plague the Murray River. They are actively studying
the river system and playing a role in its restoration as
part of their involvement in the Sustainable Schools Program.
 As
a result of their efforts to reduce waste from houseboats
on the river, a teacher and some of the active students were
finalists in the Volvo International Awards and were taken
to Sweden for the Awards.
Their environmental education has been incorporated into
a range of curriculum areas from art to science and creative
writing.
The students are maintaining and replanting a nearby island
on the Murray and have been engaged in a stenciling program
throughout Mildura, marking the city’s drains with a
clear message: ‘Only rain down this drain.”
Their environmental education has been incorporated into
a range of curriculum areas from art to science and creative
writing. This includes a termly 'Enviro
Times' newsletter which a small group of volunteer students
in a year 5 and 6 enviro action team put together- it is strictly
an e-newspaper which is not meant to be run off as a hard
copy.
In October 2003 the students played a pivotal role in the
International Riverhealth Conference for youth presenting
at 3 of the 14 workshops and writing a theme song for the
event.
Mildura West has completed a water audit of its grounds
and has installed special guttering and tanks to trap water
currently being wasted. The water will be diverted for use
on the school oval. The school has an extensive waste recycling
facility and shreds its waste paper for use in a local worm
farm. It has installed water saving showerheads and is planning
a science garden in the school featuring indigenous plants
and the installation of micro-flush toilets in the near future.
Science and environmental coordinator at the school Marion
Vorwerk says the program empowers the students to act to change
environmental problems and gives them a sense of self-worth
and community participation.
Some measures that Mildura West Primary School has undertaken
to become a more sustainable school are
• Green stickers saying ‘save smart energy’
and red reading ‘don’t waste’ have been
attached to all light switches.
• Light sensors have been installed in 21 classrooms,
and some have been disconnected in the main admin wing since
more skylights have been installed.
• Heating is turned off in all rooms at recess.
• Open windows are utilised on mild warmer days.
• A new urn that only reheats when it is being used
has been put in the staffroom.
• Passive solar techniques are being utilised with vines
being planted on one wing of the school and blinds being installed
in each room. All new painting is to use light colours.
• 4-5 star purchasing policy implemented.
• Car pooling has been encouraged for families and a
secure bike area has been set up.
Results from these measures have been.
• The percentage of students that ride, walk or catch
public transport to school has increased by 12%.
• The cost of water per student per year has decreased
by $11.69.
• The amount of waste the school is recycling and composting
per year increased by 6 m3.
More
info.
For more information please contact Marion Vorwerk
on (03) 5023 1336, email mildurawestps@edumail.vic.gov.au
or go to the Mildura West Primary School website at http://www.mildurawestps.vic.edu.au/
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