St Mary's College Seymour, Longwood Primary School and Yea Primary School have been awarded grants of up to $1000 to help students enhance native habitats, improve sustainable food production and recycling, or support waste management projects at their school.
This year’s grants also placed an emphasis on the importance of bees and pollinators in the environment with applicants offered extra funding of up to $500 for projects that directly support the conservation of Australia’s bee population.
Woolworths’ Seymour store manager Michelle Cook said she was pleased to help Seymour schools create a better tomorrow.
“The grants will not only help Seymour schools create and maintain projects that support the local community to go greener, but will also have students buzzing with the opportunity to support and protect our native bee population,” she said.
Yea Primary School is using the money to build a native bee habitat and a greenhouse to house an aquaponics project. The water from the aquaponics will be used to grow a range of vegetables and herbs.
The greenhouse is being built from recycled material and the aquaponics will be powered by wind and solar-generated energy.
School chaplain Graham Veal said the hands-on learning program was proving beneficial for students.
“Not everyone learns effectively through the traditional approach. We find if we get the kids doing something practical, they learn without realising,” he said.
“Building the greenhouse means they’re working on their math and communications skills while doing something they enjoy. They’re learning all the important skills while being outside keeping their hands busy.
“When I was at school, I was one of those kids that didn’t like the traditional approach to learning. I liked working with my hands and I learnt more effectively when I could see the result of what I was doing.
“It will be great for the kids to see the finished project and we’re very thankful to receive the funding to do it.”
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