Green day sows seeds for future

MORE than 900 green-fingered students and staff celebrated World Environment Day on Monday when Hillsmeade Primary School held a fun-filled event.
Students at the Narre Warren South school were encouraged to walk or ride to school instead of travelling by car and also enjoyed a litter-free lunch.
Grade two teacher Evelyn Schultz said students had rotated through a number of activities to raise their environmental awareness and had helped plant 2000 new trees, enjoyed various water and energy-saving exercises, and learned about recycling.
“The children can understand that if everyone does their bit we can make this a better place to live. Children can take ownership and responsibility for the plants they have planted and will still be able to come back and look at them in years to come,” she said.
The day’s events were organised by Ms Schultz and fellow Hillsmeade teacher Marg Vincent, who also run a weekly Environment Club together.
Ten businesses and organisations ran various activities during the World Environment Day celebration, including the City of Casey, Thiess Services and South East Water.
Hillsmeade recently became one of the first schools to register to become an accredited Water – Learn It! Live it! school with South East Water.
On Monday, an education officer conducted many water-saving activities. The school is working with South East Water to integrate water conservation to the school curriculum and reduce water use throughout the school grounds.
South East Water managing director, Dennis Cavagna, said the program would help save water by providing the latest knowledge to assist schools in raising awareness and reduce consumption at home and school.
“I congratulate Hillsmeade Primary School for their commitment to saving water and in helping to educate future generations.
“Learning how to save water is an important lesson for life. Water – Learn It! Live It! equips students with the awareness, knowledge and skills needed to make life-long changes in their water use behaviours,” he said.
For more information about South East Water’s range of free school activities or the Water – Learn It! Live It! education program, please contact Kerry Archer on 9552 3648.