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There have been many Woodleigh
initiatives over the years related to the
environment & sustainability has emerged
as a pressing and major priority. In recent
years ?they have lifted the bar?.
In 2005 a Director of Sustainability
was appointed and Staff and Student
committees have been working on
environmental priorities (especially with
respect to recycling and reducing the
?environmental footprint?).
Last year construction commenced on an
?Environmental Sustainability Centre?, with
hands-on involvement of students, and the
aim to release a five year ?Sustainability
Master Plan?.
www.gdlife.com.au | 71
Independent Coeducat ional Mornington Peninsula
woodleigh.vic.edu.au
A school of thought
Junior Campus Minimbah
Minimbah Court, Frankston
9787 2733
Main Office and Senior Campus
Golf Links Road, Baxter
5971 1108
World Class
Our Primary Years Program (International Baccalaureate Organisation) unites and excites
young minds to learn, create and explore our wonderful world and all that it has to offer.
Our students are: Inquirers - Thinkers - Communicators - Risk-takers - Knowledgeable -
Principled - Caring - Open-minded - Balanced - Reflective.
For more information about the Primary Years Program at Toorak College contact our
Registrar, Ms Donna Galloway on 9788 7234 or donnag@toorakc.vic.edu.au
WARDLE HOUSE
An independent day and boarding school for girls Years 7 to 12 and co-educational Preschool to Year 6.
Old Mornington Road, Mount Eliza. www.toorakc.vic.edu.au
World Class
Our Primary Years Program (International Baccalaureate Organisation) unites and excites
young minds to learn, create and explore our wonderful world and all that it has to offer.
Our students are: Inquirers - Thinkers - Communicators - Risk-takers - Knowledgeable -
Principled - Caring - Open-minded - Balanced - Reflective.
For more information about the Primary Years Program at Toorak College contact our
Registrar, Ms Donna Galloway on 9788 7234 or donnag@toorakc.vic.edu.au
WARDLE HOUSE
An independent day and boarding school for girls Years 7 to 12 and co-educational Preschool to Year 6.
Old Mornington Road, Mount Eliza. www.toorakc.vic.edu.au
World Class
Our Primary Years Program (International Baccalaureate Organisation) unites and excites
young minds to learn, create and explore our wonderful world and all that it has to offer.
Our students are: Inquirers - Thinkers - Communicators - Risk-takers - Knowledgeable -
Principled - Caring - Open-minded - Balanced - Reflective.
For more information about the Primary Years Program at Toorak College contact our
Registrar, Ms Donna Galloway on 9788 7234 or donnag@toorakc.vic.edu.au
WARDLE HOUSE
An independent day and boarding school for girls Years 7 to 12 and co-educational Preschool to Year 6.
Old Mornington Road, Mount Eliza. www.toorakc.vic.edu.au
World Class
Our Primary Years Program (International Baccalaureate Organisation) unites and excites
young minds to learn, create and explore our wonderful world and all that it has to offer.
Our students are: Inquirers - Thinkers - Communicators - Risk-takers - Knowledgeable -
Principled - Caring - Open-minded - Balanced - Reflective.
For more information about the Primary Years Program at Toorak College contact our
Registrar, Ms Donna Galloway on 9788 7234 or donnag@toorakc.vic.edu.au
WARDLE HOUSE
An independent day and boarding school for girls Years 7 to 12 and co-educational Preschool to Year 6.
Old Mornington Road, Mount Eliza. www.toorakc.vic.edu.au
Work has begun on Woodleigh's
Sustainability Centre. Located in
the upper reaches of our site, this
development is surrounded by the
gardens, vineyard, orchard and
animals of the school.
This project has had a rather long
history, having begun around four
years ago, at a time when the AgHort
department was looking for an
innovative solution to their need for
a classroom. Development of the
project was centred on a committee
of students who were (and are)
interested in a responsible approach
to the environment.
These students were able to work
with a 4th Year RMIT building degree
group in a "studio" that dealt with
finding a sustainable, and affordable,
building type. Along the way the
school has sought inspiration from
many individuals who have shared
our enthusiasm for the construction
of a building that requires low energy
input, uses materials that need little
energy to produce, does not have
a strong negative impact on the
environment, and is comfortable and
functional.
Educating a wide group of people
about sustainable solutions was an
early objective of the project and so
the building has evolved over the
years to become a working example
of high and low tech possibilities.
The material of choice for this
project has been straw bale, with
its excellent thermal properties,
it is able to be grown quickly, is
available locally, can withstand
fires and most importantly, can be
constructed with relative ease and
little experience. Two walls have
been built to test the material in
action and this process has been
judged a success. The straw bale is
used on two walls and the remaining
structure is now constructed using a
variety of processes including radial
cut timbers, straw board, inverse
brick veneer with hebel blocks and
assorted insulations.
As this article is written, we have
the poles that will support the roof
in place and are about to render our
latest test wall with its final coat.
Ihere is constant work being do on
the area by students who document
the own safety audits for each stage
Their work has been acknowledged
by the Order of Australia Association
and we am working with the
Frankston City Council and other
schools to allow those involved in the
project to pass on their knowledge to
our broader community.
We will continue working towards
the development of this leading
edge centre through the school's
curriculum.
- Mark Friedlander Environment
Centre Workshop Teacher
Excerpt from Namalata,
Semester One, 2007
Su s t a i n a b i l i t y Ce n t re i s Bo r n a t Wo o d l e i g h
Ex c i t i n g En v i ro nme n t a l I n i t i a t i v e s
Many educationalists
believe in choosing the
school to suit the child.
If a child exhibits an
academic, creative,
sporting or technical
bent a parent must
research schools
that provide
and nurture these
abilities - Ginger Hill
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