BRISBANE Catholic Education schools featured prominently in the Green Lane Diary Awards at the Queensland Museum and Science Centre late last year.
Year 6 students from St Mary’s School, Beaudesert, and their environmentally friendly mascot Eco-Owl were among the stars of the show as Federal Education Minister Peter Garrett presented them with an Outstanding Group Achievement Award.
Meanwhile, Mr Garrett also praised the efforts of St Mary’s 2012 Year 6 student Georgia Wilkie, one of five winners of the Outstanding Individual Achievement Award, and 2012 Year 5 student at St Pius X, Salisbury, student Teigan Diphoorn, awarded an Outstanding Student Award.
The Green Lane Diary is a curriculum-linked education program designed by environmental educators to help children aged eight to 13 years become aware of the stresses the earth confronted and how sustainable living can make a difference.
More than 42,000 students across nearly 400 schools Australia-wide participated in the project by completing daily environmental actions in their Green Lane diaries.
St Mary’s Year 6 students created Eco-Owl (a recycled pizza shop mascot) to promote environmentally sustainable actions throughout the school community.
Some initiatives and ideas they have come up with included a new school vegie patch, weekly student sustainability awards and fundraising by selling products made from recycled materials.
St Mary’s assistant principal for religious education Trish Dunn said when the costume was donated the students thought it would be a great idea to give the old character a makeover and turn it into an environmentally friendly owl.
“A group of Year 6 students take on the Eco Owl role for the week,” she said.
“These students select an environmental theme and focus for the week which they then present on assembly and write a newsletter article to inform the school community.”
Ms Dunn said the Eco Owl team also donated their lunch times to walking around the school picking up rubbish, ensuring it was green and clean.
They also spotted students carrying out environmentally green and clean actions and presented them with an award at the end of the week at the school assembly.
Ms Dunn said St Mary’s was committed to making the school a green, clean and happy place to come every day.
“We all can make a difference and it starts with us,” she said.
Mr Garrett also recognised the support and commitment of teachers Matthew Start, Belinda Ciuffetelli, June Romer and Megan Evans.
