Sacred Heart Primary School, Mildura

Sacred Heart Primary School, Mildura has a number of green groups that run various activities around the school.

S.H.E.C. (Sacred Heart Environmental Community) Sacred Heart Primary, Mildura
How many students are in the group?
Seven
What grade(s) are they in?
Grades 5 and 6
How do you become a member?
You fill in an application form and get interviewed.
Where, when and how often do you meet?
School Library. Formally once a week but quite often informally
What is the name and position of the teachers who sponsors your group?
Mrs Zalec Teacher Librarian
How long has your school had a green group?
It started in 2003.
What happens at your group meetings?
We discuss SHEC radio*; environmental concerns; organise environmental activities; write articles to put in our newsletter. We find ways to give the environment a hand.
*SHEC broadcasts a regular radio program on the in-school radio station.
List some of the achievements of your group?
Going to the International River Health Conference in 2007.
Organising Mission Possible an environmental activities day.
Running SHEC radio
What are you planning to do next in your school?
SHEC radio program focus: Riverwatch, Turtles
Do you think other schools should start groups like yours? If so why?
Definitely, if other schools had a group like ours, it would make them care for the environment more and be more aware of environmental issues eg pollution.
We do work and research but we have fun doing it. It always works out great!
Members: Verity, Maigen, Hayley, Chloe, Jessica, Alek and Jacob

Compost Kids, Sacred Heart Primary School Mildura
How many students are in the group?
Nine
What grade(s) are they in?
Prep, Year 3, Year 5 & Year 6
How do you become a member?
You ask a member and they decide if you can join. So by invitation
Where, when and how often do you meet?
Thursdays at recess in the Library
What is the name and position of the teachers who sponsors your group?
Mrs Zalec Teacher Librarian
How long has your group been going?
Compost Kids has been going for 3 years
What happens at your group meetings?
We decide all the new plans we are going to do for our school to do with compost, worm farm and teaching other kids.
List some of the achievements things of your group?
We have put compost in our gardens
We have been on SHEC radio to spread the message
We ran a session during our 2007 Mission Possible Environment Day
We have been into the classrooms and talked to the kids about composting.
What are you planning to do next in your school?
We are making a magazine about our environment and our own compost.
Do you think other schools should start groups like yours? If so why?
Yes, because they will learn more about our environment and how to keep it healthy and learn to work in groups.
It’s a lot of fun and your time goes to a good cause. Compost helps your vegies to grow.
Members: Wendy, Caitlyn, Abbey, Nicole, Dominique, Anthony, Jacob, Alek and Joseph.

Wiggly Worms, Sacred Heart Primary, Mildura
How many students are in the group?
six
What grade(s) are they in?
Grade 1, 4, 5
How do you become a member?
By invitation from a member
Where, when and how often do you meet?
In the library once a week at recess.
What is the name and position of the teachers who sponsors your group?
Mrs Zalec Teacher Librarian
How long has your group ben going?
Wiggly worms has been going for 1 year
What happens at your group meetings?
Discuss what we want to achieve.
List and briefly describe three things your group has done or achieved?
Set up buckets under each tap
Set up signs to remind people not to waste water
Played a water saving game with other kids on Mission Possible Environment Day
What are you planning to do next in your school?
To plant some seedlings into our courtyard gardens and organise a roster for watering. Our aim is to save water throughout the school, spread the message about saving water as widely as we can and help improve our gardens. In 2008 we are on a water saving mission.
Do you think other schools should start groups like yours? If so why
Yes, because water is precious and groups like ours can help others to save it. It is good to have kids teaching kids.
Members: Deneille, Shenaye, Bill, Siela and Leila.

Note from Mrs Zalec: This group was started in 2007 to help some students develop social skills. It met and worked in school time - mostly outside in the gardens and if inside, always the work was connected to the gardens eg making garden signs and posters. This year one of the members of the original group acted independently to keep the group ‘alive’ organising past members and meeting times. They now meet in their own time.