Resource smart
The ResourceSmart Schools program initiative provides practical support to schools to reduce resource use, make cost savings, integrate sustainability into the curriculum and share learnings beyond the school gate. It helps schools reduce costs while providing students with the opportunity to learn about sustainable practices. At Newbury Primary School we endeavour to meet the ongoing requirements of a Resource Smart school and attain our first star.
Since 2008 the program has:
Program features
Waste and soft plastics: The Waste Warriors will lead the way
Here at Newbury Primary School we have realised we have a big problem! And this big problem is soft plastic. Together with CERES (Centre for Education and Research into Environmental Strategies) our “Waste Warriors” designed an audit to count all of the rubbish in our school. We found yucky banana peels, apple cores and many other items, but the main items were chip packets, biscuit wrappers and muesli bar packets.
We found out that we don’t need to place these into the purple landfill bins but we can recycle these and they can be made into new and exciting things for us to use.
As part of Resource Smart schools we will develop goals to reduce our plastic use and make a better environment for everyone.
Assemblies
At Assembly we are celebrating when we bring less plastics to school. Remember, every Wednesday is Waste Free, so no wrappers in lunchboxes please. But if you forget, take those wrappers home with you. Let’s go Newbury and reduce our love of plastic!
Waste Free Wednesdays
Every Wednesday at Newbury Primary School is Waste Free Wednesday. On this day we ask that no rubbish, chip packets, cling wrap be brought to school as we try and help the environment. Think of ways you can provide a Waste Free Lunchbox for your child next time you pack lunch. Go the superstar parents of Newbury!
Hayden and Alisha – Year 2
Waste free Wednesdays are great so we can protect the animals in our world, because sometimes plastic can blow into the oceans and animals may die.
I think it is important because when we throw plastic away it will go to landfill and it will create a giant junk pile and make lots of gas which is bad for the air we breathe.
Composting Program
Wonderful soil, wiggly worms and less food waste travelling into landfill. These are just some of the reasons for wonderful composting at Newbury Primary School. Classes are encouraged to include a compost bucket or bin to throw fruit and vegetable scraps into which are then thrown into our large compost bins near our greenhouse. Let’s hear from some of our students explaining why composting is so important:
Suganda- Prep
When there is a compost bin it makes some soil for your plants so that they can grow strong and healthy.
Dane – Year 1
It is really important because if you don’t compost all the scraps will go into landfill and make a lot of gases and wreck our environment. Please compost your scraps whenever you can!
Connor – Year 2
It is important because the food scraps get tiny and they turn into soil because the worms eat the food scraps and they make lots of healthy poos.
Keerat- Year 3
Because if you don’t compost it won’t turn back to soil. So if we do this we can turn pour scraps into soil. If it goes to landfill it wiil be very stinky and the gases will pop the world’s atmosphere
Talia - Year 5
It will help the environment more because you can make more things with it such as soil. It helps it to make it a lot healthier and plants will grow a lot better.
Ellie – Year 6
They can be used for multiple things like soil and helping the environment by breaking down as the worms munch it down easily. If it travels to landfill, it will compete with plastics and it will create toxic waste and fumes like gases called greenhouse gases which will affect atmosphere.
Greenhouse
Our Greenhouse is just beginning to thrive with many new plants being planted. A big thank you to Mr. Gregory, Miss Donohue and Mrs Gillett for assisting with the planting. Let’s hear from the students to tell us what a greenhouse is and why it is called this.
Year 2 students
The green house is where you put plants so the sun can go inside it. We place plants in the greenhouse so that the warmth of the sun cant’ get out of the greenhouse and we can plant even when it is cold outside.
A greenhouse is called a greenhouse because it traps heat, just like Greenhouse gases. The sun gives the plants light and warmth, which creates energy which the greenhouse helps with.
Waste Warriors Reminders
