Sustainability

= = = Schools National Tree Planting Day = = =

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On Friday the 28th July 2017, it was schools national tree planting day and a lady from Hume City Council came and helped us plant the seedlings. Her name was Mel and she explained to us how to plant the seedlings. =====

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Next, we covered the roots and then the helpers would come around and they would put a little guard around it. This consisted of three stakes (wooden sticks) and a plastic covering around the outside. =====

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At the start of the day we had the preps and the kindergartens. After we had the grade ones. After recess, we had the grade threes, fives and the sixes. The last hour we had the grade fours and the grade twos. =====

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=Written by Environmental Leader Grade 5=

“I liked schools national tree planting day, because I got to hang out with Mel and help the younger kids.” Grade 5 Student. = =

= = “I liked helping the kids and teaching them how to plant.” Grade 5 Student. = =

= = “I loved how we hammered in the stakes, it was fun!” Grade 3 Student. = =

= = “I liked the part how we put the water crystals in the hole.” Grade 3 Student. = =

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= = = = = = = = = = = = = = = SUSTAINABILITY PROJECT =  Dallas Brooks Community Primary School is working towards being a Resource Smart school. We have a lot of exciting initiatives on the horizon – such as becoming active participants in Enviroweek, Earth Day and World Environment Day. These events are celebrations of nationwide and worldwide sustainability and the perfect opportunity to promote and celebrate the ways in which we care for our world and sustain and manage our school’s water, power and waste. We will achieve these milestones through power and water conservation, recycling, gardening and composting, and eating fresh and healthy food! Above all – we will be a Resource Smart School through working together as a school community.

We look forward to participating with students, families and staff as our school community learns and grows towards a more sustainable future. BIODIVERSITY MATTERS Melissa Doherty, Ecologist from Hume City Council, visited Dallas Brooks Community Primary School in July, 2016, and met with our student Environment Leaders and Sustainability Committee. The flora and fauna of our school grounds were observed, and shrubs, rocks, grasses, flowers and trees were named and noted, as well as birds, insects and frogs.

Our student Environment Leaders and Sustainability Committee learnt a great deal about the Plains Grasslands ecosystem of our local native environment, and how much it has decreased over the last century, as the city of Hume infrastructure developed over the years. Many of the local native animals and plants are endangered. Dallas Brooks Community Primary School aims to work towards the planting and ongoing care of native shrubs and trees that are natural habitats for our endangered species, thus supporting our local ecosystem and helping the wildlife to flourish. This will in turn strengthen the natural lifecycles in our environment and improve the growth and beauty of the nature of our grounds and surrounding local ecosystems. Students and families are encouraged to pitch in for the betterment of our local wildlife. You can even help at home to support our natural environment, by:

– recycling and composting daily

– maintaining a garden with Australian Native plants, especially “Plains Grasslands” Australian Native flora, including flowering plants, rocks and shrubs.

Our school community can work together to maintain our natural world and care for our environment. Please see our student Environment Leaders and Sustainability Committee, Ms Penny Howard and Mrs Michelle Napolitano for more information about how you can help to make a difference, both at home and at school.