Through ownership of our school’s environmental action the students of B.F.P.S. are making a difference!

Student Waste Management Program Landfill, Paper/Cardboard Recycling, Compost, Recycling, School Grounds
Our students audit the school landfill and paper/cardboard recycling, collate data for the school newsletter, advise classes of contaminates and single sided usage of paper found in bins, present awards and perform a ‘School Wrapper Survey’ each month. Each day compost and recycling monitors check all class bins for contaminates and at assembly they present the ‘Bin Action Award’ to classes with best waste practices. Each fortnight classes collect waste in allocated areas in the school grounds. The students apply in writing for the position of Environment Supervisors. The ‘Your Can Do It Environmentally, B.F.P.S. Waste Management Program’ DVD and ‘B.F.P.S. Waste Wise Chart’ which were created by the 2006 graduating students is used by the teachers as part of the school waste management training for all students.

Student Animal Care Program
Students complete written applications for Animal Carers and Animal Supervisors positions. Once experienced the students take on the position of animal care trainers. The Animal Carers run tours every third week to allow all students to become familiar with all the animals in the environment room. There are approximately 30 students involved in this program.

Student ‘Enviro News Broadcasting’
Students from years five and six perform an environmental broadcast each Wednesday.

Current Student Programs
Student Water Management Program - During 2008 students are completing a comprehensive study of water and its journey to us. From this a ‘Student Water Wise Management Program’ will be created.
Student Energy Management Program - During 2008 students are completing a comprehensive study of energy and alternatives. From this a ‘Student Energy Wise Management Program’ will be created.

Paper Making Club
Students from years three to six collect the shredded paper from the office to recycle into hand made paper. The paper is then made into cards which are then sold to raise funds for a B.F.P.S. Animal Shelter.

Worm Farms
Each year level manages their own worm farm and the castings are sold to raise funds for a B.F.P.S. Animal Shelter.

Connecting with Our Community Environmentally
Students from all year levels are involved in various environmental excursions and celebrations from the ‘Environment Expo 2008’, ‘Australian Garden – Cranbourne Botanic Garden’, ‘Clean Up Australia Day’, ‘Whole School Rubbish Free Lunch Celebrations’ to the City of Casey’s ‘Growing a Green Web Program’.

Environmental Awards
In 2006 Berwick Fields Primary School became an accredited ‘Waste Wise School’ and our Environmental Program won the ‘Innovation and Excellence Award’. Again in 2007 B.F.P.S. came second in the state for the Rubbish Free Lunch Challenge – Advanced Category. We also won the State ResourceSmart Schools Awards 2007- WasteSmart Category. We were also chosen as a finalist in the EPA Victorian Ecological Footprint Banner 2007.

Environment Garden
During environmental education lessons all students participate in gardening activities. They may focus on vegetable growing, planting a sensory garden, waste decomposition, propagation, experimenting and creating a weed killer from natural products and growing necessary food for school animals.