Across Grimwade House, students are encouraged to engage in sustainable practices as part of their everyday routine. Small actions such as composting food scraps, recycling, and turning lights off when not in the room all build a greater awareness of sustainability.
Through our outdoor education program, students have further opportunities to understand their impact on the natural world and the actions they can take to protect it. For example, Year 6 students recently visited ‘The Cape’ sustainable housing and community garden project during their expedition to Camp Dowd.
“The Year 6 students met with Gardener Adrian and helped out with planting, feeding worms, and harvesting. Some of the foods currently growing include pomegranates, pumpkin, basil, apples, lettuce, and beetroot, and they are available for the whole community to enjoy.”—Julia Lin and Will Day, Year 6. Read more.
Broader perspectives on sustainable practices are an inherent component of the curriculum at Grimwade House. For example, in Year 5 Year students undertake self-directed inquiries to find and deliver creative solutions to food, fashion and e- waste.
In Year 6, and with a $20 ‘start-up’ allowance, students are challenged to use recycled and/or sustainable materials to create products they can sell at a School stall with any profit being donated to charity.
Students also recently worked with staff from the Royal Botanic Gardens and played an active role in the Raising Rarity program. This program intends to help conserve endangered plant species in Victoria.
“The opportunity is a great way for collaboration with other people both at school and outside the classroom. It is enjoyable to know I have been able to help make a difference in the conservation of endangered plants.” - Ethan Fok, Year 6 Read more.
Beyond this, students regularly participate in bespoke activities which support environmental awareness and stewardship.
For example, they organised the collection of blister packs (often used to package medication) from the Grimwade House community for specialist recycling. Read more.