Grant sparks quick growth

IEU members and students at Northside Montessori School in Pymble are wasting no time putting their IEU Environment Grant to good use.

The small school (120 students, 30 staff) was one of four to win a grant from the IEU Environment Awards late last year.

The school received $3000 for a high school program with a strong emphasis on environmental studies, Indigenous studies, food technology, student-initiated micro businesses, art and agriculture, with integrated practical applications within all key learning areas.

Some of the grant has already been used to purchase native plants. Principal Adam Scotney said the plants selected by Year 6 students included finger lime, lemon myrtle, molucca raspberry, native tamarind, native sarsaparilla, midgen berry, native guava and chocolate lily.

Director Margaret Kroeger said: “We’re so excited to receive the grant, it’s wonderful. We want the students to create the space and own the space. We’ll put the grant to good use.”

We want the students to create the space and own the space – we’ll put the grant to good use.

Other grant winners from 2020 who are developing projects this year include:

Broulee Early Learning Centre, Broulee, NSW

The centre received $3000 to create a self-contained ecosystem and bee hotel on the roof of a purpose-built play space. (More details to come in this year’s first edition of Bedrock.)

St Mary’s War Memorial School, West Wyalong, NSW

The school received $1500 to create a garden that does not require watering to teach students that an arid climate can still be a functioning one. The garden will also provide a safe and beautiful space to support student and community wellbeing.

St John Vianney Primary School, Waramanga, ACT

The school received $1500 to produce sustainable wicking beds using upcycled materials for a vegetable garden to support incorporating homegrown food in the school canteen offering. Students will learn to maintain and care for the produce.