Hillsmeade Primary School staff and students enjoyed having a helicopter land on their oval for winning the Regional Garden Award. Back: Debbie Daks, John vab der Horst, Paul Crowe, and Paul Jones. Front: Justin, Paige, Giran, and Marissa. Picture: Stewart Chambers
By Lia Bichel
A HELICOPTER landed at the Hillsmeade Primary School oval as a reward for winning the regional garden award.
Grade 3 teacher Evelyn Schultz said students were ecstatic when the helicopter, carrying garden award judges, landed at the school.
“Not many schools get to have a helicopter land on their oval,” she said. “The students were over the moon.”
Judges of the School Garden Award in Melbourne arrived in the helicopter to judge the school’s gardens at a state level after Hillsmeade Primary School won the regional award in category three for the second time in a row.
Ms Schultz said the students and staff were thrilled about winning the regional award and had done a lot of work to beautify the schoolyard with the help of local volunteers, businesses, the City of Casey, and the Parents, Friends and Teachers’ Association (PFTA).
“We have had a lot of support.” she said. “When the school began six years ago, there was nothing here, no grass, no plants. But we have done so many environmental activities and on every World Environmental Day in June we plant 1000 plants. It has been a huge task.”
Though the school also received $300 for more plants, 22 roses from a Langwarrin rose nursery, and a merit award at the state level for their efforts, Ms Schultz said the students were most excited about the helicopter’s arrival.
“It was an amazing experience and something they will never forget,” she said.
