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Mt
Riverview Public School PHONE: 02 47392180 |
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Mt
Riverview Public School PHONE: 02 47392180 |
Futures
Education at a Glance:Catchment Management at a Glance:
Students are introduced to the concept of a catchment and the notion that
all the activities taking place in that catchment impact on the quality of
the water leaving it. They undertake activities based on Constructed Wetland
Technology (CWT) to 'polish' the water leaving their school grounds by removing:
Timeline Australia at a Glance:
Students are asked to question the basic idea of the imposing of the European
calendar of four equal length seasons on to the huge continent of Australia
with its varying terrains, climates and vegetation. They have been asked to
keep an individual or class diary of significant environmental events with the
idea of creating a Regional Calendar.
Plants at a Glance:
Seeds of native plants are collected, 'harvested' and stored in a Seed Bank.
They are then used by the school's Environmental Club to grow plants for class
gardens, school grounds and local bushland regeneration projects.
SEA at a Glance:
Baseline data is collected on the use of energy and water as well as the volume
of waste being generated by the school.
Next, an action plan is developed and implemented which is aimed at reducing
each of the above and also improving the general aesthetics of the school.
Since 1989 Mt Riverview School has had a Futures Education Committee in operation.
This committee comprises two representatives from each class, parents and
interested teachers.
At the first meeting of the year, they select the topics that will be treated
during that year.
Meetings are held about twice a term during lunch hour. The main topic for
each meeting is advertised at least two weeks beforehand allowing parents,
teachers and classes to collect ideas to put forward.
At the beginning of each meeting there is a report given on progress made
on the previously discussed topic.
After the sharing of class/adult suggestions, an Action Plan is compiled.
Each representative then reports back to their class. Each class is able to
react individually to the plan. Occasionally there are whole school activities
where all are expected to participate e.g. Heritage Week, where the students
are grouped and rotated through a range of activities.
The
topics treated since 1989 include:
Tools and Techniques:
As well as the work treated by the Committee, the teaching staff have also
been inserviced in the use of some simple techniques that can be used in the
study of preparing for the future. These include:
Futures Wheels, Trend Analysis, Trend Extrapolation, Cross Impact Matrix,
Delphi Technique, Scenario Writing, Imagery and Metaphors, Creative Problem
Solving.
Resources:
21°C Magazine, "Beyond 2000" ,"Hot Chips" and "Quantum"
television programs.
At
Mt Riverview School the stormwater flows to the east out into the gutters
in Rusden Road and to the west into a creek that drops away quickly and flows
into Cripple Creek and then into the Nepean River.
The pipe that takes the water to the west discharges at the head of the creek
but is still on school property. A simple trash rack which has been constructed
from a recycled fence panel is used to collect plastic and other rubbish as
the water rushes through.
Contoured retention drains have now been constructed in sections of the school grounds that slope away to the west. The drains slow the flow of stormwater and deposit the silt in the bottom of the drains. Students then periodically clear the drains, sieve the silt and use it for playground maintenance.
A large sediment pit has been constructed at the head of the creek below the trash rack. Rocks, chain wire and leaves have been used for the barrier. The stormwater forms a large puddle which allows the silt to settle. The soil accumulated in this pit is used for class gardens and the plant propagation program.
Selected native plants and emergent macrophytes have been planted in designated areas with the aim of stabilising the banks and begin the process of removing chemicals from the wastewater.
As ripe seeds of native plants are located, they are collected and placed into an envelope, dried and when the seeds have been released, placed in an empty film canister. The canister is numbered and all relevant details of the seeds are recorded on a computer spreadsheet.
According
to demand, the seeds are grown in a specially constructed enclosure in a quiet
area of the school grounds. At Mt Riverview the enclosure is a chain wire
construction measuring 5m x 5m by 3m high which contains tiered plant platforms
and a work bench. It is also home to the school's compost bins and can recycling
container. During the hot summer months, shade cloth is used for protection
against the midday and afternoon sun.
For the initial propagation, the seeds are planted in a mixture of coarse bush sand and commercial seed raising mixture. Some seeds need special attention before planting e.g. wattle seeds have to be covered with boiling water the night before planting to crack the outer seed case.
After the plants shoot and reach the required size, they are 'potted on' into the black plastic tubes. This time they are placed in a mixture of compost castings and good quality silt with a covering of seed raising mix to prevent drying out. Thirty to fifty tubes are able to be held in Styrofoam tomato cases, thus making it easier for watering and handling.
Over long holiday periods the plants are taken home and cared for by students or staff.
If mature plants are given away, it is on the understanding that the black tubes will be returned to the school for reuse.
KNAPSACK CREEK PROJECT
The senior classes competed in the Murder Under the Microscope project. As
a result of the work attempted, the students decided to 'adopt' a catchment
and see if we can make a contribution to improving the quality of the water
flowing into the Nepean. Already, we slow the flow of water leaving our school
grounds and collect and use the silt for playground improvements.
The students selected the Knapsack Creek Catchment that begins near Glenbrook
Oval and passes through residential areas, natural bushland and has a sporting
oval, golf course and sewerage treatment works along the way. Near the confluence
with the Nepean there is a designated wetland that is almost completely covered
in weeds. It also has the problem of being in two local government areas.
Action Plan
A representative from SCRAP was invited to our school to analyse the waste collected in the garbage tins on a 'typical day'. The results were graphed and suggestions made as to how the volume could be reduced.
The school's Futures Education Committee devised the following Action Plan:
Paper Recycling: Each classroom and office has been issued with two containers to hold white and coloured paper.
Composting:
Grade three students are responsible for collecting the class, playground,
staffroom and canteen composting buckets and depositing the contents into
the compost bins. The mature compost is used on class gardens.
Class Gardens: Each year there will be an allocation of a garden to each class which will be responsible for the planting, watering and weeding.
Energy Reduction: Class monitors have been appointed to
switch off lights when the class is out of the room. Light tubes have been
purchased that are quick starting and have a longer life. Gas heaters are
turned off at 2:00pm.
Reduction of Packaging: Representatives of the Futures Ed. Committee attended
a Canteen Meeting and asked the Organiser to give preference to companies
who have a minimum of packaging.
Monitoring Water and Electricity Usage: Students read the meters after each 30 school day period. This information is graphed on a computer and results are advertised in the school newsletter. Watering of the school playground is kept to a minimum.
Can Recycling: A special garbage bin is placed under the can crusher in the canteen area and Yr 3 students empty it once per week into the bag in the recycling enclosure. The cans are sold, with the money going to the Futures Education Committee funds.
Playground Management: There is a constant monitoring of playground litter, unsightly notice boards, graffiti and broken windows by the Futures Education Committee and the School Captains.
The fertilisation, turfing and aeration of the playground are closely monitored by the School Council and expert advice has been sought to ensure this work is 'environmentally friendly'.