School tilts at green record

Berwick Fields students are waiting for confirmation that they will hold the Guinness World Record for the World’s Largest Energy Efficiency Lesson. Front: Grade 2 students Samuel and Allison. Back: Charly, Joshua, Takaya, Bethany with teacher Brooke Livings. 86327 Picture: MEAGAN ROGERSBerwick Fields students are waiting for confirmation that they will hold the Guinness World Record for the World’s Largest Energy Efficiency Lesson. Front: Grade 2 students Samuel and Allison. Back: Charly, Joshua, Takaya, Bethany with teacher Brooke Livings. 86327 Picture: MEAGAN ROGERS

By MELISSA MEEHAN
BERWICK FIELDS students are eagerly awaiting word that their attempt to hold the record for the World’s Largest Energy Efficiency Lesson was successful.
Last week students and teachers at the school tried to beat the current record which sits at 250 participants.
“The primary focus of the lesson was on the energy we use in our everyday lives and what kinds of practical action classes and students can take to reduce the energy we use,” environmental education teacher Adam Surmacz said.
“ In addition to the teachers and students involved in the event we had more than a dozen volunteer witnesses, timers and marshalls as well as parents to run a barbecue to add to the celebration.”
He said the school’s student enrolment was almost 1050 and everyone participated in the event, but due to logistical reasons organisers were only able to include close to half the school in the final count.
Now that the event is over, the photo and video evidence will be sent with completed witness statements to the Guinness World Book of Records Office in London for verification.
“Since it was established six years ago, Berwick Fields has had a commitment to demonstrating care for the environment through practical action and this event follows that philosophy,” Mr Surmacz said.
“A whole school event such as this evokes a sense of pride in our environmental emphasis for teachers and parents but most importantly for our students.
“They are going to play a huge role in solving some of the future environmental challenges we face such as climate change.”