Environment Matters Autumn/Winter 2024

Students creating positive change Raceview State School students are taking their lead in environmental initiatives with the support of Tangalooma EcoMarines and council.

Science teacher Nick Winwood said the school had re-invigorated its environment and sustainability initiatives in collaboration with Tangalooma EcoMarines. “It’s an amazing program and the children have really enjoyed it,” he said. “2023 is the first year we’ve had environment captains, which is a great leap forward for the school.” The environment club would meet each Monday, and the students had taken action. “The first big thing in 2023 was to organise Containers for Change, which has been very successful,” Mr Winwood said.

“The students are all over this – they take out the bins each day and bring them back. They can see the bins filling up and they all want to do it. “The money goes back into environmental projects such as gardening. It’s that circular economy happening.” One of the recent projects was installing wicking garden beds for growing vegetables and flowers. “Using wicking beds is self-sustaining,” Mr Winwood said, adding that they had grown tomatoes and flowers to use in science class, as well as providing some produce for the tuckshop. “The students take ownership of the project, that’s the big thing,” he said. Schools can find out more about support available: Tangalooma EcoMarines – Ecomarines.org Ipswich City Council Enviroed – Ipswich.qld.gov.au/enviroed

Free plants from council’s Nursery are also being planted around the school, increasing habitat and creating ways for the students to be involved in school improvements. Mr Winwood said there was more to come, with ideas for more projects in 2024. Raceview State School was one of the schools that presented at the 2023 Youth Sustainability Summit, sharing their projects and learnings with other Ipswich students. The school also participated in council’s Experience Nature Schools Day, where students engaged in environmental education and activities at Flinders- Goolman Conservation Estate.

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