Well what a day- we ended up with 20 odd schools and over 400 students and another 50 teachers. A big thanks to all the participating schools whom shared their sustainability stories, learnings and achievements. Thank you for all the displays and for participating in our Expo.

The day’s events where a welcoming by the head of the campus, Harry Ballis, then a dream time story by an indigenous elder, Doris Patten, we heard from six schools with what they are doing on site, building frog ponds, plating trees, creating learning spaces, outdoor classrooms, saving water & energy, recycling and learning & sharing.

A big thanks to Yinnar South PS, Newborough PS, Kurnai College, St Pauls PS, Commercial Rd PS & Toongabbie PS for presenting & sharing your journey into sustainability.

Will Tait our great facilitator prompted the audience for thoughts and questions about imaging a better future for our kids.

Morning Tea was fresh fruit from a local fruit supplier- brought along by the Latrobe Community Health Services- people in the Latrobe valley has some of the state’s lowest fresh fruit in their diets amount and access to fresh fruit and vegetables. We thought we could close this gap by supplying our kids with fresh fruit. The RCE team also cooked & baked for the teachers- we live our values!

For schools that could not attend the day we set up video technology so they could log in and participate in the day

 

 

The day started out with a welcome to country by Doris Patten, a  Gunai Kurnai elder whom told the students about our region and a dream time story. In the photo you can see musical instruments, this school attended and played music during the breaks- this was their idea and was not prompted, thanks for the great idea

Below are some examples of school displays- even though this event was targeted at primary schools- St Pauls Warrigal campus thought it was important that sustainability flows through all grades- some year 11 students came and participated in the day- thanks

Below is a sea of kids engaged- we thank you Will Tait from “our planet enterprises”  https://www.facebook.com/OurPlanetEnterprises

 

 

During the day when we had breaks, we had a graffiti wall in place so kids could come and draw whatever their heart desires- he best of the day was ” Don’t lead our planets face to a disgrace” pretty powerful from the junior minds that will lead us into the future.

 

 

Thanks to our partner agencies, Fed Uni, SWEP, EPA, Doris Patten (Gunai Language Council) Gippsland Water, Gippsland Waste and Recovery Group, Department of Environment & Primary Industries, Latrobe City, Resource smart Aussie Vic, Sustainability Victoria, Latrobe Community Health Services & The Gippsland Climate Change Network