Cross Curriculum Priorities: Part 1

Welcome to the June edition of news from the Cross Curriculum Coach. This month’s news comes in

three parts because so much has been happening!

The Australian Curriculum identifies three cross curriculum priorities:

Sustainability

Aboriginal Cultures and Histories

Australia’s Engagement with Asia

United Nations Environmental School Award

Our 360 Tonnes of Impact: Thinking globally &

acting locally project was selected as the winner in

the 2015 United Nations Association of Australia

World Environmental Day Awards, in the

Environmental School Award category. This

award was achieved despite strong competition

from other sustainable schools across Australia.

Winning this Award is an impressive achievement

– your achievement! We won because of all the

wastewise, waterwise, travelsmart, energysmart

and planting actions taken by students, staff,

parents and volunteers at our school. Thank you

and many congratulations for winning this award!

Sustainability

Achieving Progress on our 200 Tonne Plan

The 200 Tonne Plan is a project to reduce emissions of Greenhouse Gases to the atmosphere by 200

tonnes. This Plan was a component of the United Nations Association of Australia World

Environmental Day Award mentioned previously.

The Upside Down Thermometer represents our 200 Tonne Plan. Each can on the thermometer

represents 20 tonnes of Greenhouse Gases. As shown in the following photos, cans are removed

from the thermometer at assemblies as we demonstrate progress towards our 200 tonne target.

We are reducing our greenhouse gas emissions by:

School solar panels

Solar lanterns for our Solar Sister schools in Uganda

Tree planting

Composting and worm farming

Recycling paper and cardboard

Recycling aluminium cans, batteries and tooth care products

Recycling lawn clippings and coffee grounds

Using water from our rainwater tanks

Joining the Walking School Bus and supporting TravelSmart days

These actions help us to achieve our target … and move us closer to becoming a carbon positive

school, our ultimate goal! 20 boya notes will be printed to reward progress on the 200 Tonne Plan.

Currently, 1, 5 and 10 boya notes are circulating in our community, reflecting our previous

greenhouse gas emission reduction plans. Boyas can be used at our garden stalls, the canteen and

some shops. Please support our 200 Tonne Plan!

Eco Footprint

1. Biodiversity Action:

Our Garden Gurus

Year 4 (Rm 3) and Year 2 children (Rms 8

& 9) have been busy in the garden. They

prepared their beds recently and

planted a wide range of vegies and

herbs.

Tomatoes, carrots, silverbeet, coriander

and basil will be thriving here …

Mildew Mania

Growing barley for Curtin University’s Mildew Mania research project is underway again this

year. Year 1 students are working on this project by planting different varieties of barley.

They will examine the barley leaves for evidence of mildew infestation. In term 3 our

students will use microscopes to observe the leaves. Leaf samples will also be posted to

Curtin University for detailed analysis.

River Rangers

Bat Boxes

An environmental consultant, Joe Tonga, conducted bat box workshops with our Year 6 and 4

students (Rms 7, 5 & 3). The students learnt about the importance of bats in our ecosystem. This

unit of work was part of their Technology and Science studies. Students examined the properties of

different materials used in the construction of the boxes, as well as reviewed the stages in the

design process. The bat boxes were installed in our bushland and near the Kwobadarn.

Bushland Research

Year 6 students are continuing their research, regularly monitoring their bushland quadrats,

observing and photographing the impact of the January fire.

The students photographed and researched topics of interest related to the bushland this month.

These work samples, together with poetry and stories about the bushland, are being compiled into a

book on the bushland. The book will be completed in Term 3. This book project demonstrates how

the Sustainability and Aboriginal Cross Curriculum Priorities are embedded into Literacy, Science and

Geography.

Fauna Release

The River Rangers participated in a fauna release at

the Perth Cultural Centre (PCC) Wetlands.

Students conducted water quality testing of the PCC

wetlands water and water from a nearby natural

wetlands system.

They reported on their findings … there was a lack of

biodiversity in the PCC wetlands, which indicated the

need for the fauna release. They released frogs, fish and

macroinvertebrates.

Frog workshops were also conducted, providing opportunities for

the students to learn about the fifteen different species of frog

living around Perth.

Bush Rangers Visit

The Mount Lawley Senior

High School (MLSHS)

Bush Rangers visited our

school to participate in

community service. They

weeded, then covered an

area of the bushland with

mulch to control weed

infestation.

Many thanks to all these hard working Bush Rangers!

Our River Rangers have the opportunity to join these Bush Rangers in Year 7, if they attend MLSHS.

Garden Stall

The fortnightly garden stall is going strong. Over $300 has been raised

this year to support sustainability

initiatives at our school. Thank you for

your support.

Decorative Wheelbarrow

Year 2 (Room 8) students prepared an old wheelbarrow for planting. They

planted pansies and snap dragons and displayed the colourful wheelbarrow near

their room.

Students watering their newly planted flowers…

Please view Cross Curriculum Priorities: Part 2

for further June news!