Issue 8 SJC News 2021

Term 2 - Upcoming Events

Every day - CUT THE WRAP

Monday 31 May Enviroservice, (3:30pm-5:30pm), Edmund Rice Campus

Saturday 5 June World Environment Day, theme: Ecosystem restoration

Tuesday 8 June World Oceans Day

POLYMER RECYCLING WORKSHOPS

On Thursday 13 May, former student Sam Lancaster together with Adam and Ashlee Slater, Zero Plastics Australia, visited St Joseph's Edmund Rice Campus to conduct Polymer Recycling workshops with Ms Michelle Anderson's Year 11 VCAL students, providing insight into the opportunities relating to reprocessing plastic polymers.

Sam's presentation raised awareness of the demand and supply of recycled plastics from a business perspective and he worked with students to explore ideas for circular economy with local businesses. Adam and Ashlee Slater from Zero Plastics Australia, conducted workshops on reprocessing polymers, providing students with first-hand experience to witness the process of injection moulding and students were able to take home a product at the end of the day. Adam and Ashlee produce an array of recycled polymer products including; clipboards, pens, coasters, carabiners, planter pots & jewellery and are the first company in Australia to create a recycled polymer mould for USBs.

In collaboration with staff from the Geelong Tech, VCAL students have been developing their own Injection Mould designs, to be used in our CR Clarke Injection Moulding machine throughout the remainder of the term.

For more information on Zero Plastics Australia, visit the following website: https://zeroplasticsaustralia....

ENVIROSERVICE

On Wednesday 19 May, several students volunteered to commence the Gate 5 garden upgrade project. Students worked exceptionally well to move existing mulch aside, in order to lay new blended soil prior to planting. The two species planted include Lomandra Little Con (Lomandra confertifolia) and Common Everlasting (Chrysocephalum apiculatum). Year 10 Environmental Science students subsequently completed the planting and Sustainability Leaders have been productive, following up with watering the new plants in. The second garden bed is scheduled to be upgraded during the next Enviroservice session, to be conducted on Monday 31 May.

EMBANKMENT MAINTENANCE

In conjunction with the National Reconciliation week, VITA students have been industrious, removing weeds and spreading mulch over our indigenous food species garden area to the north of Aphrasia Oval. In just two seasons after planting, many of the saltbush species are now producing berries for insects and native mammals and birds to enjoy. Whilst there is still a great deal of necessary maintenance on the embankments, the progress is very rewarding.

COMMUNITY NOTICES

CALLING FOR BOTTLE TOPS

To support our VCAL students with their recycling endeavours, we are calling for clean plastic bottle tops with numbers 2 or 4 only. Bottle tops can be delivered to the reception area of either campus.

WAURN PONDS CREEK CLEAN UP SUNDAY 6 JUNE- SERVICE LEARNING OPPORTUNITY

On Sunday 6 June, the "Friends of Waurn Ponds Creek" will gather between 9:00am and 12:00pm to conduct maintenance of the most recent National Tree Day site. Their ongoing efforts to create of a nature corridor along the Waurn Ponds Creek, are in a bid to save the vulnerable and threatened Yarra Pigmy Perch, believed to now only exist in the Waurn Ponds Creek and the Thompson Creek. For more information, visit the following website; https://www.friendsofwaurnpond...