Where Learning Fosters Social & Ecological Responsibility

In 2012, Forest Crescent further consolidated programs and processes which work towards increasing our social handprint and decreasing our ecological footprint, as part of the Australian Sustainable Schools Initiative (AuSSI).  Year level sustainability projects were maintained, providing students with a diverse range of social and environmental experiences from Kindy through to Year 7. There have been whole school participation in special events such as Good Sammy Donation Drive, National Water Week, Environment Week and National Recycling Week. 2012 saw the establishment of the student Green Team, two worm farms, environmental certificates and the use of yellow-lid recycling bins. Outside expertise has been accessed for incursions and staff development including Cleanaway,  Department of Environment and Conservation, SERCUL, Water Corporation, Good Sammy Industries and Waste Wise Schools Program. There have been whole school participation in special events such as Good Sammy Donation Drive, National Water Week, Environment Week and National Recycling Week.

2011

• Each year level to commit to and develop a sustainability project from the AuSSI Social Handprint or Ecological Footprint.
• Consolidation of existing sustainability projects such as Waterwise Schools Program, social programs and Transport and Air.
• Whole school participation in selected sustainability activities such as National Water Week, Harmony Day, Good Sammy Donation Drive, Daffodil Day Stall (against cancer), Anglicare Christmas Drive, Operation Christmas Child, Walk to School Day and Cycle to School Day.
• To set up processes for recycling projects (paper, batteries, aluminium ring pulls, mobile phones ).

2012

Continuation of 2011 programs in addition to;

• Form a student environmental team with representation from all year levels:
  • Successfully implemented. One Green Team student for each Year 1 to 7 class. All have badges. Green Team responsibilities include: emptying paper recycling bins, worm farms, promoting events/messages in their class, attending three meetings per term, speaking at assemblies (optional).
• Continue with existing sustainability programs:
  • Sustainability projects maintained. Some equipment and resources purchased to support.
• Whole school incursion from Cleanaway on recycling in term 1. Year 4 classes to take on responsibility for introducing yellow lid recycling bins:
  • Cleanaway excursion organised for Year 4 classes only. They took on board the responsibility of implementing the introduction of yellow-lid recycling bins with posters on bins, monitors at recess and lunch, messages at assemblies.
• Set up two worm farms and establish systems to operate them:
  • two worm farms operating. Run by student Green Team (Monday). Room 30 (Wednesday) and room 12 (Friday). Worm whiz produced. Used on school gardens and sold to the wider community.
• Year level to write a short action plan for their sustainability project, indicating the expected outcomes and benefits for students.

2013

Continuation of 2011 & 2012 programs in addition to;

• Continue with year level sustainability projects with the expectation that teachers will create an action plan which shows cross-curricula links and expected outcomes and benefits for students
• Support the Kids Matter program and other programs related to student well being ( PATHS, Rainbows, buddy classes …)
• Encouragement of students to report on their sustainability projects at assemblies and in the school newsletter
• Continue to promote whole school involvement in special events (National Water Week, Harmony Day, zero-waste lunchbox challenges, National Recycling Week…) through PA messages, library and front office displays, posters, newsletters, Pencil Points, staff meetings and school website

2017

Continuation of preceding programs in addition to;

• Implementation of whole-school sustainability activities (worm farms, paper recycling, zero-waste lunchbox challenges…)
• Year level sustainability projects, overseen by year level coordinators
• Establishment of the edible garden and a worm farm in the Kindy/Preprimary area
• Continuation of the Travelsmart program
• Special Days/Weeks (Clean Up Australia Schools Day, Harmony Day, Recycling Week, Good Sammy Donation Drive, Water Week…), staff volunteers to coordinate
• Sustainability committee meet twice a term
• Students Green Team ( Years 1-6), one student per class per semester
• Incursions and Excursions
• Information on Professional Leaning opportunities distributed to staff, access community and government organisations that will support our action plan (Waste Wise and Waterwise school programs, SERCUL, City of Gosnells, SSI (WA), Rivers Regional Council…)
• Distribution of information and acknowledging successes through staffroom pinup board, library displays, newsletter, Pencil Points, FCPS website and local media outlets

2018

Continuation of preceding programs in addition to;

• Students Green Team (Years 1-6), one student per class per semester, lunchtime meetings
• Signage at electrical switches around the school, encouraging switching off when not in use
• Coordination with Science and HASS committees on school planning
• Sustainability committee to meet at least once a term
• Incursions and Excursions- organized by class teachers and/or sustainability coordinator
• Build a habitat for native frog species-establishing a frog bog.

All of the school’s members have participated in special events such as Good Sammy Donation Drive, National Water Week, Environment Week, and National Recycling Week. Each year level to commit to and develop a sustainability project from the AuSSI Social Handprint or Ecological Footprint. Consolidation of existing sustainability projects such as the Waterwise Schools Program, social programs and Transport and Air. Whole school participation in selected sustainability activities such as National Water Week, Harmony Day, Good Sammy Donation Drive, Daffodil Day Stall against cancer, Anglicare Christmas Drive, Operation Christmas Child, Walk to School Day and Cycle to School Day. To set up processes for recycling projects, such as paper, batteries, aluminium ring pulls, and mobile phones. Additionally, the school community has embraced the importance of biodiversity by creating native gardens and habitats for local wildlife, fostering a deeper connection with nature and enhancing the learning environment for students.

All members of Forest Crescent PS and each year level are dedicated to developing sustainability projects and enhancing existing initiatives such as the Waterwise Schools Program and various social programs. We encourage whole-school participation in key sustainability events such as Harmony Day, Walk to School Day, and Cycle to School Day. We also implement recycling processes for paper, batteries, aluminium ring pulls, and mobile phones. Furthermore, our school community recognises the significance of biodiversity by maintaining our native gardens and habitats for local wildlife, including the adjacent lake area, thereby fostering a deeper connection with nature and enriching the educational experience for our students. For 2024 and 2025, we are also looking at supporting other worthwhile, sustainable programs. Going forward each year level is now committed to managing the following initiatives.

• • Kindergarten – Supporting GOSAC Donations(Give Our Strays a Chance) – an initiative started by Dean Morris as a PEAC project when he was 10 years old at Forest Crescent Primary School. GOSAC is still going strong. Read more about GOSAC  (ClickHere)
  • Pre-Primary – Planting and maintaining the garden beds outside the art room.
  • Year 1 – Organising the Foodbank Collection across the school; usually scheduled for Term 4.
  • Year 2 – Organising the cleanup of Forest Crescent Primary School Grounds and the adjacent lake area; usually scheduled for Term 1 & 4.
  • Year 3 – Organising the Good Samaritan Collection and spare glasses collection and being responsible for maintaining the worm farm.
  • Year 4 – Maintaining the Frog Habitat and 6 Seasons Garden (see picture below).
  • Year 5—Organising and scoring the ZERO-Waste Lunchbox challenge, in which students in all classes bring lunchboxes with waste-free food and no disposable wrapping; usually scheduled for each term in Weeks 4 & 8.
  • Year 6 – Organising Bike Week, Wheel and Walk and end-of-year Kids4Kids event.