Sustainable schools & childcare
COVID-19 UPDATE
All City of Canada Bay in-person events and workshops have been suspended until further notice. We will be monitoring the situation closely and taking advice from relevant authorities on when it will be safe to return to resume normal operation. For the latest information Council’s response to COVID-19, please click here.
Sustainable Childcare Network
With the success of our Sustainable Schools Network, the City of Canada Bay launched the Sustainable Childcare Network (SCN) in 2014. The network provides a range of educational resources for educators, students and the school/centre community. We have attracted 20 active service members who participate in network meetings and free workshop opportunities.
The SCN is managed by the Sustainability Team and offers free environmental workshops, resources and four network meetings each year (one per term) hosted by a school/centre on a rotating basis. Meetings are open to all educators and parents of the school.
Each meeting includes:
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Guest speaker on a sustainability topic
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Announcements of free workshops and resource opportunities
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Information about sustainability resources, tools and programs available from environmental organisations.
The SCN has assisted preschools with environmental incursions, Indigenous education, staff development, litter and waste reduction programs. Education programs have been delivered to schools by Koori Kinnections, Seed Harvest Spoon, Splash Into and Kids Edible Gardens.
Download the SCN fact sheet to find out more about how the program works.
More information
To join the Sustainable Childcare Network or to find out more, please contact Council’s Sustainability Projects Officer via email or call 9911 6555.
COVID-19 UPDATE: WORKSHOPS AND MEETINGS SUSPENDED
All City of Canada Bay events and workshops have been suspended. This decision was made with the health and safety of our community in mind and under the guidance of State and Federal authorities. We will be monitoring the situation closely and taking advice from relevant authorities on when it will be safe to return to resume normal operation.
For more up to date information on Council’s response to COVID-19, please click here.
Sustainable Schools Network
Council launched the Sustainable Schools Network (SSN) to provide support and inspire schools to incorporate environmental education within the school community.
The network offers free hands-on educational experiences, such as student leadership mentoring, professional development workshops and incursions/excursions to schools within the City of Canada Bay. Topics on offer range from biodiversity, Indigenous education, gardening, litter reduction, energy, water, food and fashion.
Network meetings are once a quarter and are open to principals, teachers, specialists, P&Cs, school volunteers and educators from all local primary and high schools.
Some projects the SSN has assisted schools with are:
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Edible and native gardens
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Native bee hives
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Rainwater tanks
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Establishing an aquaponics system
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Wildlife habitats
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Litter and waste reduction programs.
Download the SSN fact sheet to find out more about how the program works.
Professional Learning Accreditation for Teachers
DEC teachers who attend our SSN meetings can register for two hours of accredited professional learning through their DEC portal. Council will provide a code to all the teachers prior to the meeting for registration.
Small Environmental Grants for Schools
Each year, Council provide grant funding to support sustainability projects in schools and school communities. Grant funding is available each year in two different categories:
- Support Grant - funding up to $1,000 to expand on existing projects
- Development Grant - funding up to $3,000 for the implementation of new projects
Applications for the 2020 Community Funding Programs are currently closed. Please visit our Community funding page to receive up to date information on opening dates for 2021 Community Funding Programs.
In 2020, the following schools were successful in receiving grants for their projects:
| School | Project | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Abbotsford Public School | Native Bee Project | $1,000 |
| Concord High School | Say Goodbye to Plastic | $1,000 |
| Our Lady of the Assumption Catholic Primary School | What Plant Am I? | $700 |
| Rosebank College | Water Stations | $3,000 |
| Russell Lea Public School | Native Garden | $1,000 |
| Strathfield North Public School | Water Saving Kitchen Garden | $1,000 |
More information
To join the Sustainable Schools Network or for further enquiry, please contact Council’s Sustainability Projects Officer via email or call 9911 6555.