Environmental Philosophy

Mill Park Primary School is continuing our inspiring journey towards becoming a leader in sustainable education. We believe that true change comes from strengthening our connections with the wonderful world around us. We have developed an exciting hands-on environmental program that prioritises student voice and agency in partnership with our local community.

Sustainability Captains from P-6, voted for by their peers, lead a diverse range of sustainability initiatives and acts mentors to their peers, directing a message of hope from within each and every classroom.

Current Projects:

Biodiversity:

Chickens: MPPS students are the proud carers of our adorable ISA Brown hens. Our sustainability captains are responsible for ensuring their physical and emotional wellbeing.  Each captain has the opportunity to mentor their own class in caring for our chickens. Some current initiatives are:

• Funding raising for future improvements for the chicken coop and its surrounds.
• The development of chicken care protocols.

Permaculture Garden:

Our students learn the basic principles of permaculture by investigating the connections between living systems. This year our enthusiastic green team are:

• Exploring companion planting
• Sowing green manure crops- a broad range of leafy greens that fix nitrogen back into well-worked soils.
• Harvesting the greens to feed our chickens.
• Preparing the soil for spring planting by digging the green manure back into the garden and resting the bed.

Waste:

Students reduce, reuse and recycle waste produced by the school, and our community, in a range of student led activities:

• Worm Farm: Biological waste is cycled through this dynamic environment, creating fertiliser for our vegetable garden and continuing the cycle of life.
• Compost Bin: Our hardworking Sustainability Captains have developed their understanding of composting with a City of Whittlesea Waste incursion.

Student ideas for future projects:

• Recycled wooden garden markers and signage
• Scarecrow construction
• Painting of the new chicken coop
• Trellis building
• Seed harvesting
• Replanting a Sensory Garden