MAD 2009

2009
MAD Activities

Cygnet Primary

Project: Looking after pets and farm animals

Grade level of students involved: Kindergarten

No. of students: 23

Teacher: Judith Rhodes

Our vision: Our class aims to create a lifelong interest in the care and respect of all animals. We hope to change people’s ideas about “what an animal needs for a happy and healthy life”!

Our issue of concern: is animal welfare.

What we have done: The children worked with their teacher to think about the things that are most valued in life and decided to explore more about animal welfare.

First we had an excursion to the Hobart Dogs’ Home. After this excursion the children decided to create books and flyers that would help to educate people about the things dogs need for a healthy and happy life. Children designed a beautiful poster that has also been made into a card to be given to all new dog owners visiting the Dogs’ Home. The Dogs’ Home was so impressed with this design that they are using it for their 60th birthday celebration next year! We also got the whole school involved in collecting donations of dog food and blankets to send to the Dogs’ Home. We had an overwhelming response!

Our next activity was a visit to Emma Haswell at her Brightside Farm Sanctuary. We had a great time feeding and patting all sorts of animals – sheep, calves, pigs, dogs, chooks - and Emma taught us all about looking after these animals. We wanted to help Emma’s farm so we prepared pasta for the whole school (as a lunch time fundraiser) and raised $250. People also donated dog and cat food and bales of hay to send to the farm.

We painted a billboard for the animal nursery at the Huonville Show depicting “Brightside Farm Sanctuary". It highlighted the pigs and chickens enjoying a happy life at their new home! Next we will be working on designing educational flyers and posters for the farm.

We’ve had a fantastic year doing lots of exciting activities about animals – we have even been able to learn about the rest of the world through postcards sent by two of our class dogs “Cyril” and “Aloysious” who visited the Northern Territory, Korea and China!

Top photo: Kinder students with the billboard they have made for Brightside Farm Sanctuary to use at the Huon Show.
Bottom photo: The poster created by the Kinder students to illustrate how to care for your dog.

Don Campus

Project: Climate Change - A Local and Global Inquiry

Grade level of students involved: Primary/Secondary/Senior Secondary/Tertiary

No. of students: 180

Teacher: Craig Kerr

Our vision: is for our schools and wider communities to have an increased understanding and knowledge of climate change

Our issue of concern: is to create greater collaboration between scientists, experts, politicians and Primary, Secondary, Senior Secondary and Tertiary students and their teachers around the globally significant issue of climate change.

What we are doing: We have established Climate Change Clubs at The Don Campus, Ulverstone High, Devonport High, Miandetta Primary, Nixon St Primary, and at our sister-schools in Japan and Thailand. Our students are mentored by scientists from UTAS, AAD, CSIRO and BOM and we are informing ourselves and our communities via scientific inquiry, guest speakers, field trips and collaborative projects.

Specific investigations have focused upon profiling of local beaches, sea level rise, sea acidity and temperature changes, krill, greenhouse gases, ice sheet movement, and Antarctic weather. Highlights of our project have been the inclusive nature of understandings developed between students of all ages and abilities and the empowerment of individuals to further empower and influence others.

At our school we have installed a 4 kW solar array, paper recycling in all classrooms and campus wide recycling bins and we are currently looking at solar hot water and movement sensors for our internal lighting.

Photos: Don Campus students at the 2009 ruMAD? Youth Action Conference face painting to raise awareness of climate change.

Gagebrook Primary School

A special ruMAD? Project is unfolding at Gagebrook Primary School. Since the beginning of 2008, the Tasmanian Centre for Global Learning and the school have worked to implement ruMAD? throughout the school. This is supported by a Gagebrook teacher who has relief one day every week to act as ruMAD? coordinator, focussing on the program and assisting other teachers. A trial of this arrangement was made possible by a grant from the Tasmanian Community Fund in 2008. In 2009, the program was funded by a partnership between the school, the Department of Education, Brighton Council and a private philanthropist. The program is now set to continue for the next 2 years thanks to the ruMAD? partnership between the Tasmanian Centre for Global Learning and Gagebrook Primary winning a national $50,000 Schools First Impact Award!

2009 MAD project details follow but a more detailed account of ruMAD? at Gagebrook, including Learning Sequences, can be read here.

In 2009, the school also produced PowerPoints detailing how the ruMAD? Program was implemented in each grade group. View or download these PowerPoints here:

Implementation of ruMAD? in grades Prep-2 (PowerPoint)
Implementation of ruMAD? in grades 2-4 (PowerPoint)
Implementation of ruMAD? in grades 4-6 (PowerPoint)

Project 1: Caring for disabled children

Grade level of students involved: 5 - 6

No. of students: 22

Teacher: Ms Tujula

Our vision: In 2009 Units M, I and K will come together as one to support people in need. Step by step we can make a difference by participating ‘til the job is done.

Our issue of concern: We are concerned that people with disabilities are not treated with the same respect and dignity as ourselves.

What we have done: Sherry Edwards, principal of Hazelwood School, shared with us the abilities and disabilities of the students that attend her school. Guest speakers from disabled organisations, as well as disabled clients, have visited our school to talk to the students about the issues that disabled people face.

Gagebrook students have made regular visits to Hazelwood to do activities with the students there. We enjoy getting to know them and helping them play. We have made books and games for them to play with including Chatterboxes and a treasure hunt. We have also completed a project that demonstrates our understanding of people with disabilities and the issues that they face in their lives.

Project 2: Caring for the elderly

Grade level of students involved: 4 - 6

No. of students: 22

Teacher: Ms Colles

Our vision: In 2009 Units M, I and K will come together as one to support people in need. Step by step we can make a difference by participating ‘til the job is done.

Our issue of concern: is that elderly people living in care facilities may not have enough happiness in their lives, and do not get the opportunities to mix with young people.

What we have done: Kylie Jetson from St Ann’s Aged Care came to visit us and talk about the needs, abilities and disabilities associated with the frail and elderly. As a result, we have made numerous and regular visits to the elderly people at St Ann’s to play games with them, read books, share stories and talk about their lives.

We have created our own resources to take with us that will help to stimulate conversation. We want to cheer them up. We have made knee blankets from our French knitting and given these to the residents.

We have also completed a project that demonstrates our understanding of people who are elderly and in care and the issues that they face in their lives.

Project 3: Care of sick children

Grade level of students involved: 4 - 6

No. of students: 22

Teacher: Ms Randazzo

Our vision: In 2009 Units M, I and K will come together as one to support people in need. Step by step we can make a difference by participating ‘til the job is done.

Our issue of concern: is that there are sick children in our communities who through no fault of their own must spend considerable time away from home and school.

What we have done: Penny Richardson from Ronald McDonald House came to visit us and give us an idea of what services the house provides to sick children and their families. Following this we went to the house to get a feel for the place and to see if they might be lacking any resources. Also, Lisa Burn from the Ronald McDonald Learning Program explained to us how sick children can still keep up with their school work while they are in hospital for a long time. As a result, the very first Tasmanian ‘Silly Socks’ day was held at Gagebrook Primary School to raise funds for the Ronald McDonald House Learning Program. We also made resources for Ronald McDonald House, such as games and books, which the children would enjoy.

A guest speaker from Camp Quality came to our school and spoke with us about the sorts of activities they offer to young people living with cancer. We held a Bandana Day to raise money and awareness about young people living with cancer. We have also completed a project that demonstrates our understanding of children who have to deal with long term illnesses and the issues that they face in their lives.

Project 4: Caring for injured native Tasmanian wild life

Grade level of students involved: 2 - 4

No. of students: 50

Teacher: Ms Didham, Mr Down

Our vision: We would like to reduce the number of injured native animals that have been affected by human beings.

Our issue of concern: is that there are a lot of animals injured through road kill. There has to be an awareness of how native animals become injured and how to care for those injured animals because there are so many. We want to know how animals become injured, how we can reduce the numbers of injured animals, and what we can do if we come across an injured animal.

What we have done: Erica Davison from the RSPCA spoke to us about native animals that they might care for and how they care for them. Yvette Causon from the Fox Eradication Taskforce presented a workshop on the impacts to native wildlife by foxes. Angela Gillone from Parks and Wildlife provided us with information about common native animals found in our area. Greg Irons from Bonorong Wildlife Centre came to talk to us about how they care for their native animals. He also gave us some good tips on what to do if we found an injured animal. Subsequently, we had an excursion to Bonorong to see first hand the native animals that were being cared for.

Through our fundraising we are now sponsoring the care of a young bettong at Bonorong. We have been to the Tasmanian Museum to look at the animal section. As a result of gaining lots of knowledge, we have produced an information brochure which has been distributed throughout our community.

Project 5: Looking after our pets

Grade level of students involved: Prep - 2

No. of students: 70

Teacher: Mr Nicholas, Ms Panckridge, Ms Jackman

Our vision: Units A, B and D want to help people to look after their pets properly.

Our issue of concern: is that there are pets in our community that are not being looked after.

What we have done: A veterinarian nurse showed us what happens to pets when they are not looked after or are injured. She showed us some pet care products and how to use them. Emma Haswell and her pet pig from Brightside Farm presented information about different types of farm pets, as well as how some animals are mistreated.

Erica Davison from the RSPCA came to speak to us about looking after our pets. We baked cup cakes for Cupcake Day as a fund raiser for the RSPCA. We also collected pet food to donate to the RSPCA to help them feed the animals they care for.

A guide puppy is being trained at the school, cared for by one of the teachers. This young dog is now permanently in the school and we are learning how to care for and treat it so that it will get the best out of its training.

Huonville High School

Project: Social Justice Group

Grade level of students involved: 7

No. of students: 5 - 7

Teacher: Janet Harrington

Our issue of concern: Human rights and animal rights.

What we have done: After attending the 2009 ruMAD? Youth Action Conference, a small group of switched on Grade 7 students decided to set up the Huonville Grade 7 Social Justice Group. Ayla, who helped form the group, said of the Conference, “I had a great day and learned lots of things about our society and how we could fix it by the end of our lives”.

The Social Justice Group meets at lunch time every Monday to discuss issues of concern and plan things that can be done to create awareness and change. These are some of the issues we have identified so far.

Animal rights:
- factory farming such as with chickens and pigs;
- sheep mulesing, shearing and live transportation;
- testing of medication on guinea pigs, mice and rabbits; and
- dog breeding.
Human Rights:
- torture in places around the world;
- children in detention, child slaves, child soldiers;
- children's rights, such as the right of free speech and the right to believe what they want;
- people losing what they need such as their home, family etc. such as migrant children; and
- different ways of treating boys and girls - gender issues.

Actions
For Anti-Poverty Week in October we invited members of Oaktree Foundation to talk at the Grade 7 assembly. Our visitors showed a remarkable DVD which helped us to realise that poor children around the world would like to have the things that we take for granted such as a home, school and nice food to eat. We were invited to join others around the world to Stand Up Against Poverty and we all stood and pledged that we would like to do more to address global poverty.

We have been learning more about human rights after some of us did the workshop run by Amnesty International at the ruMAD? Conference. We were particularly moved to write letters and postcards by the video clip “Your signature is more powerful than you think”, which we found on YouTube. Through the Australian Amnesty website we have written to the Prime Minister about the suspension of the Racial Discrimination Act in Northern Territory and sent postcards about the conflict in Afghanistan.

We are now planning our action on animal rights. Emma Haswell from Brightside Farm Sanctuary recently visited the school with one of her pigs. She talked to all the Grade 7s about battery hens and pigs and the inequality of farm animal’s rights compared to domestic pet's rights. We would like to visit the Farm and perhaps do some volunteer work for Emma.

On school Orientation Day the Social Justice Group did a presentation to Grade 6 students to spread their vision and welcome them to join in, so we are hoping to be able to continue and expand the Group in 2010.

Photo: Members of the Social Justice Group with Oaktree Foundation representatives.

Kings Meadows High School

Project: Comfort Boxes for Bushfire Victims

Grade level of students involved: 7 - 8

No. of students: 60

Teacher: Helen Burley

Our issue of concern: Is to is to help those affected by the 2009 Victorian bushfires.

What we have done: We wanted to contribute something to the victims and decided to make comfort boxes to donate to children who had lost their homes in the bushfires.

Initially we brainstormed what was appropriate to include in the comfort boxes (a standard shoe box size). We decided they should contain something to play with, to love, to write on, to wear, and to use for personal hygiene. As a personal touch, each student wrote a letter to be included in the box.

We then began creating boxes for donation to a child of a certain age and sex. Supplies to fill the comfort boxes were gathered from home, friends, neighbours and shops.

A total of 79 comfort boxes were made. With the help of the Salvation Army and a transport firm, the boxes were delivered to a Victorian primary school where they were distributed by other students to fire victims.

One of our letters to a bushfire victim
I can’t even begin to imagine what you must be going through but I really hope that this box will be able to comfort you in some way. You’re probably getting sick of people saying their hearts go out to you, but mine really does.

By the way, I’m Maddii. I’m a girl. I’m 13 and I’m a student at Kings Meadows High School in Launceston, Tasmania. I’m a dancer and a horse rider, and I love ice skating. Haha

Through this crazy time don’t forget to do the things you love. I know that I’ve never been through anything that even compares to what you have, but I also know that whenever I’m going through a rough patch and I’m down, it helps to dance. I wish you all the best for the future.

Yours sincerely
Maddii
PS I love cupcakes and llamas.

Lenah Valley Primary

Project: Eco Team

Grade level of students involved: 5

No. of students: 13

Teacher: Jenny Dudgeon

Our vision: Sustainability is one of the school’s four focus areas, along with Literacy, Numeracy and Positive Behaviour.

Our issue of concern: School sustainability

What we have done: Each of our 17 classes has a representative from the eco team who help with class recycling practices. The Grade 5 Eco Team Leaders have also been involved in a number of other projects around rethinking our practices this year:

An energy audit - our school has spent $25 per person on power for the last 7 months. In 2007 we spent a total of $28,000. In 2008 we reduced our energy consumption costs down to $21,500, and so far this year we have spent $18,000.
Encouraging students and staff to reduce power usage by turning off lights, heaters and air conditioners. We have maintained energy costs at the same level as last year, even though this winter has been much colder.
Designing and running an Eco Team Quiz for the whole school so that both students and staff could learn more about energy saving while having fun.
Setting up a suggestion box for innovative ideas to make our school more environmentally friendly.
Putting bins in each class and the canteen to collect food scraps for our worm farm and compost bins.
Making worm tea! We used some to fertilise our vegetable garden and some we sold to raise money to go the ruMAD? Youth Action Conference.
Putting recycling bins in all classes. The Eco Team collect the bins regularly and sort out used paper to make notepads.
Growing herbs and veggies in our very own veggie patch.
Creating art from recycled metal and wooden materials, with help from artist Victoria Sullivan, for an Art from Trash Exhibition .
Winning a rain water tank which we use to flush our retro fitted toilets.

Our current project is creating a “Bandicoot Plate” an award designed by the Eco Team and sponsored by Transend and Greening Australia. Students who contribute significantly to environmental change at our school will have their names added to the Plate.

Lilydale District School

Project: Jelly with Frog for Goats in the Solomon Islands!

Grade level of students involved: 3

No. of students: 2

Teacher: Kerry Lamb

Our vision: We wanted to find a quick way to raise money for poor people.

Our issue of concern: We know that drought and poverty make it very tough for poor people in other countries.

What we have done: We researched on the net with Ms Lamb and found a way of raising money for a pair of goats from Oxfam Unwrapped for a family in the Solomon Islands. We already knew that there had been a big mudslide there some time ago and that people were suffering. We worked out that 2 goats could easily become many more and that people would get milk and meat and more goats and then more families would be helped.

We told Kim at the canteen about it and she got a donation of a big packet of jelly and she sold us the chocolate frogs cheap. A teacher donated the cups. We advertised our jelly day on the Daily newsheet.

We made our jelly on two different days and put frogs in them. We also made some with fruit and fruit juice - healthy ones! We sold them for $1.50 each and they sold out in minutes. We made $81 which was enough for two goats and we had a little bit left over to start our next project which is to sell ice-cream with sprinkles but we have to wait for a hot day.

We are very proud. Ms Ashman showed us a story in a magazine with a lady and her goats and we are happy we helped them. It was really easy to raise the money and we had heaps of fun and Mrs.Wilson did not have to go crook about the kitchen.

Photo: "Bullfrog" and "Dano" cooking up some goats?

New Town High School

Project 1: Revegetation

Teacher: Mr. Peter MacFarlane

No. of students: 12

Grade level of students involved: 8

Our Vision: To improve our surroundings and encourage others to do the same.

Our issue of interest/concern: To revegetate an unused but highly visible pocket of land.

What we have done: The Grade 8 team are revegetating a previously scrappy piece of land on the school’s boundary with Tower Road. Every Wednesday afternoon they plant, water and weed the patch – one day they hope it will screen the road and provide a green haven for birds.

Project 2: Reducing Energy Use

Teacher: Mr. Warren Bounds

No. of students: 12

Grade level of students involved: 9

Our Vision: To monitor the use of energy and energy practices within the school.

Our issue of interest/concern: To ‘audit’ areas of the school on a regular basis so as to encourage reduction in the use of energy in the school.

What we have done: The Grade 9 team have taken responsibility for reducing the school’s energy use. The team has implemented a monitoring program with the following features:
Placement of signs in rooms and corridors encouraging energy-saving behaviour
Regular maintenance of signs, including correct placement of signs that are relevant to certain spaces e.g. no point having a sign that says ‘close the curtains if it is cold outside’ if there are no curtains!
Audit of rooms, especially those that are unoccupied, so as to regularly monitor and report on whether, for example, lights are being turned off in vacant rooms.
In future, they hope to improve the school’s electricity meters so that they can more accurately monitor energy use, and apply this information within learning areas.

Project 3: Recycling

Teacher: Mr. Warren Bounds

No. of students: 12

Grade level of students involved: 9

Our Vision: To monitor the use of recycling, and recycling practices within the school.

Our issue of interest/concern: To ‘audit’ areas of the school on a regular basis so as to encourage the correct use of recycling/ rubbish bins.

What we have done: As an extension of the energy monitoring program, the Green Team regularly monitors the use of rubbish and recycling bins in classrooms.
The bins also carry prominent information signs that indicate what should go in each e.g. no rubbish in recycling bins; no recyclable paper in rubbish bins.

It is hoped that, at the start of next year, recycling ‘stations’ can be set up in various areas of the school yard with bins for each of the House colours – recyclable items would attract points that go towards the Making A Difference Shield (see Project 4).

The school has also improved its recycling procedures, and some learning areas are using rechargeable batteries to avoid waste. A program for the re-use of paper that has only been used on one side is also being developed, as is the modification/identification of printers to allow double-sided printing.

Our annual locker clean-up encourages the re-use of unwanted items, through specially-marked collection bins.

Periodically, members of the Grade 9 and Grade 10 Green teams conduct ‘community clean-ups’, complete with mechanical claws’ for picking up rubbish!

Project 4: Making a Difference (MAD) Shield

Teacher: Mr. Warren Bounds

No. of students: 800 (all)

Grade level of students involved: 7 - 10

Our Vision: To recognise and reward particular groups within the school who make ‘extra special’ achievements in sustainable practices.

Our issue of interest/concern: To encourage groups of students to initiate and become involved in sustainable events offered throughout the year.

What we have done: Students are encouraged in making a difference by accruing points for their sustainability work, particularly in the areas of leadership, social awareness and environmental improvements. At the end of the year, a ‘home group’, a ‘grade’ and a ‘house’ are recognised with each having their names engraved on the ‘Making A Difference (MAD) Shield’. Programs and events in 2009 have included:

Anti-Poverty Week – coin line
Walk To Work / Ride To School
Biggest Morning Tea
Victorian Bushfire Appeal
Leadership – Prefects, Peer Support Leaders, Peer Mentors, House Captains

Top photo: Students weeding the area on Tower Road.
Bottom photo: The Making A Difference Sustainability Shield.

Riverside Primary School

Project: Raising Funds, Voices and Awareness against Global Poverty

Grade level of students involved: 5

No. of students: 5

Teachers: Lindy Bailey and Jenny White

Our Vision: is to use our brains and our hearts to get rid of extreme poverty in our world.

Our issue of concern/interest: is that lots of people around the world are suffering from extreme poverty. Children living in many other places don’t have most of the things we just expect. We wanted to help girls to get scholarships for schooling.

What we have done: We invited two Filipino children from the Kids’ View Tour to share with us about their lives as former street children.

We decided we would like to help by fundraising, and our classes voted to have a Random Day. For a gold coin, we could wear crazy clothes.

We raised money for Room to Read, to provide three girls with scholarships – they will have a bag, books, medication, and a bus to go to school. We got a letter to say thank you. Then our 40 Hour Famine rice fest raised $1700 – enough to help 212 families!

At the ruMAD? Youth Action Conference, we learnt more about poverty, and thought about how we can make a difference at school: “We can tell people, we’ll survey them and find out what they know, we’ll make what we learnt into a book that we can show the other classes so they can ask us questions. We could take a Stand Against Poverty. We could put information in the newsletter.”

We presented our survey at assembly, and read a pledge while all our school did the Stand Against Poverty – contributing 271 people to the worldwide total of 173 million people! We are spreading the word to make a difference: “We want Launceston, and our Australian Government and the world to see that it matters to us that there are people living in extreme poverty.”

“I wanted to know more about poverty so I could know how to help.” James

“I didn’t want the Conference to finish because I wanted to know even more.”

“I feel more confident – I’ve achieved a goal, I’ve started something around Launceston, I’ve accomplished a mission.” Royce

“I want to be involved next year and get the new Year 5s involved.” Courtney

Top photo: the ruMAD? Team with photos of Random Day and their presentation. In back – Courtney, Leksi, and Lindy; in front – Hayden, James, and Royce.
Bottom photo: Riverside and Trevallyn Primary students at the ruMAD? 2009 Youth Action Conference.

Rokeby High School

Teacher, Peter Veness, has relief one day each week to focus on the ruMAD? program and assist other teachers at Rokeby High to also implement ruMAD? This has been made possible by a partnership organised by the Tasmanian Centre for Global Learning - read more on the Rokeby ruMAD? webpage.

Rokeby High School is pleased and grateful to have been involved with, and had the opportunity to share the successes and achievements of, what has been a fantastic year incorporating the ruMAD? philosophy into our school curriculum.

Our first term’s work was based on a tuning-in approach and included a time for reflection on what we value and what concerns us, not only on a local level but also how this relates to human rights globally.

The results of this research and debating identified what our students and school community value, and equally what concerns us; the outcome was unexpected but also understandable. When the things we value are taken away or not part of our social structure they cause us concern, therefore the response to both issues was very similar.

What our school community values:
• Positive relationships (family, friends and community)
• Having a home (shelter, food, love)
• Parents/carers (support, love and understanding)
• Trust and loyalty

What makes us mad:
• Relationships
• Family/authority
• Dishonesty
• Lack of love, support and understanding.
• Loss

From some intense workshops and debating our students arrived at a mission statement that will attempt to support or address these issues.

Our Vision: To create a space for students and their peers, parents/guardians and older members of the community to share ideas and knowledge, develop positive relationships, and form a better understanding of the issues facing each other.

Our issue of concern/interest: We were concerned that our community was not connected. It was decided that some whole school and local community activities would be a good starting place to build bridges and bring our community together.

Project 1: National Tree Planting Day

No. of students: 200

What we have done: A total of 350 native trees and bushes were planted around the school, some as wind breaks for our sports oval, some in our water wise garden and some as habitat for native wildlife. A large percentage of these plants have survived and have shown good growth. ‘From small seeds, big trees grow’.

This was a fantastic day. Many community groups were involved along with primary schools, parents and friends, Clarence City Council, Forestry Tasmania, and all Rokeby High staff and students.

This project succeeded not only as an environmental awareness project for our local community but also as an initial networking process and discussion opportunity.

Project 2: School National Clean up Australia Day

No. of students: 150 +

What we have done: We organised another ‘community building’ day which was very successful.

All high school staff and students, some primary school staff and students and community members/groups were involved.

A substantial amount of waste was collected and disposed of correctly and discussions about pride in our community, care for the environment, and how easy it is to make a difference were initiated.

More work is planned for the clean-up of our creek and beyond the school boundaries.

Project 3: Courtyard Development

No. of students: 60

What we have done: We have developed a courtyard as an alternative learning environment and a place to share ideas. This has been a whole of year project and is ongoing.

Some of the key factors in the courtyard’s development have been educating to create a sustainable future, providing a space for all people to share ideas and wisdom, creating a tranquil space for reflection and an alternative classroom for integrated units of work such as art/science and math/SOSE.

Students from the Grade 9/10 VAL home group lead this activity, assisted by an MDT class and Grade 7 art students who created colourful designs to brighten the area. However, the project has captured the attention of all year groups and their teachers.

A community art piece has been started, plants that have been grown from seed have been harvested and staff recently enjoyed organic salads made from the veggie garden, and golden sponge cakes. These delicacies were made with the help of Elmo and Cookie the chooks and, of course, Fiona and Caroline from our foods department. Plants have been sold to raise money or sent home with children and many a green conversation has taken place whilst relaxing and reflecting in this developing community space.

Project 4: Harmony Cup Soccer Challenge

No. of students: 30

What we have done: We invited Cosgrove High students, many of whom came to Tasmania as refugees, to visit our school to play soccer. We wanted to promote team building and leadership skills while also providing an opportunity for students to socialise and form positive relationships with students from other communities, local and global, through a common interest: soccer.

Project 5: ruMAD? Community Fund-Raising Day

No. of students: 200

What we have done: We ran a day of activities to raise funds for local and global projects. We raised $4,800 and the overall impact on ‘making a difference’ was immeasurable! This day was the culminating performance of all the hard work completed throughout the year. The students and staff decided it should be a day to come together as a community to help those less fortunate and to celebrate the strength in our own community.

The outcome was more than anyone could have hoped for. The generosity, sincerity and ‘connectedness’ that was displayed was humbling to say the least.

Students invented, designed, created and had fun organising class events, individual events, community stalls, international cuisine, fashion parades, drama performances, music, fair-ground stalls, an art auction and a whole range of other activities.

Students took on leadership roles, worked across year groups, negotiated with staff, wrote to potential sponsors and liaised with community members, the police and local service providers. In fact, they left no stone unturned when it came to bringing a range of diverse groups together under the banner of community ‘connectedness’. More than 500 people were involved in some aspect of the day.

In the evening, a hungi was cooked with the help of members of the Maori community, to celebrate ethnic diversity through food. There was also a very successful fashion parade. Following this, an art auction was held, supported by many artists who kindly donated art work. The art was auctioned for the price required to supply basic necessities for those less fortunate. Items ranged from a chook $10, water for a school $98, to literacy classes $40, so the bidding took on a rather bizarre twist when people started to raise the offer for a Barraclough or a Richardson by a fishing net $50 or a piglet $35. Our very capable auctioneer, Frank Bansell, appeared to enjoy the evening as much as those bidding for the items. The feedback has been wonderful and all have felt rewarded (not only by the fabulous art work they acquired) but by the fact they have contributed to ‘Making a Difference’. $3800 was raised - a fantastic effort by all involved.

“As principal of the school I saw our students, staff and community members united to celebrate life and contribute to the needs of others on ruMAD? Day on 26 November 2009. It was arguably one of the highest points in the history of the school.” Steve Lewis

Rose Bay High School

Project 1: RSPCA Cupcake Day

Grade level of students involved: 7 - 10

No. of students: 600

Teacher: Greg Sawyer

Our vision: is for all animals to be cared for and to live happy and comfortable lives.

Our issue of concern or interest: Our issue of interest/concern is that organisations such as the RSPCA do not have enough money to do the very important work they do to care for animals in our community.

What we have done: Students arranged a free dress day and for staff and students to bake cup cakes to be sold at lunchtime. Information was circulated at a whole school assembly, in the school newsletter, on the daily bulletin and over the PA. A staff member who had recently purchased a dog from the RSPCA kindly brought the dog, Ruby, into the school for the lunch time as part of the celebration.

Over $1000 dollars was raised for the RSPCA.

Project 2: Recycling

Grade level of students involved: 7

No. of students: 600

Teacher: Greg Sawyer

Our vision: To live in a world where there is no pollution and where waste products are managed well, reused if possible, recycled into other products or reduced and do not cause problems for the environment.

Our issue of concern or interest: Our issue of concern is that there is a substantial amount of waste around and that this waste material causes problems for the environment; not only in the form of pollution, but because we’re using more resources instead of reusing the products that we already have.

What we have done: We have supplied every classroom in the school with a recycling bin. We did this by contacting Veolia on 6244 0000 or 1300134242. We made posters for each classroom to raise awareness about the importance of recycling and to make sure everyone was ready and able to correctly use the recycling bins for paper in the classroom.

We also made recycled paper writing pads for students in our class to use.

Photo: Sharlai Watson, Talitha Sharma, Anika Gonnin with a poster to raise awareness of recycling bins.

Project 3: Fitness & Obesity

Grade level of students involved: 7

No. of students: 150

Teacher: Greg Sawyer

Our vision: To live in a world where people care more about how fit they are and where everyone is healthy and happy. To make sure that all people have the information they need in order to prevent obesity.

Our issue of concern or interest: is that many children are unfit and suffering from obesity but do not realise how bad this is for them. We are worried that there is a lack of information available to young people to help them make sensible choices about diet, exercise and lifestyle.

What we have done: We surveyed our fellow students to gain an understanding of how much takeaway food the average family would consume. We have developed information sheets for students to encourage healthy eating at school and at home.

We intend to have discussions with the school canteen operators at our school, to create healthier options for students to access at recess and lunchtimes.

For more information about childhood obesity and fitness visit the Department of Health and Human Services directory.

Photo: Teegan Blackley, Kelly Skromanis, Ella Bailey, Sarah Doyle with the Rose Bay High display at the ruMAD? Youth Action Conference.

Project 4: Tasmanian Devil Facial Tumour Disease

Grade level of students involved: 7

No. of students: 600

Teacher: Greg Sawyer

Our vision: To live in a world where the Tasmanian devil facial tumour disease is no longer a severe problem and all Tasmanian devils are living and breeding normally.

Our issue of concern or interest: is that Tasmanian devils are getting sick with the facial tumour disease, the population is decreasing and the devils could be in danger of extinction if a cure is not found soon.

What we have done: We conducted a guessing game that included a large jar of lollies. People paid a small amount of money to guess how many lollies were in the jar and if they guessed correctly they won the lollies. This game raised $33 which we gave to the University of Tasmania ‘Save the Devil’ Fund.

Photo: Kelly Skromanis, Jacob Evans, Callum Mitchell, Ella Bailey with a poster about the devil facial tumour disease.

Project 5: Animal Rights

Grade level of students involved: 7

No. of students: 280

Teacher: Greg Sawyer

Our vision: To live in a world where animals are treated well and all live comfortable and happy lives.

Our issue of concern: is that there are farm animals living in horrible conditions, being poorly treated and suffering from hunger, cold, thirst and illness.

What we have done: We invited Emma Haswell from the Brightside Farm Sanctuary to come and talk to some of the year 7 and 8 classes at our school. Emma showed us some films and talked to us about the unfair treatment some farm animals are receiving. Now we’re much more aware of what is going on and, with Emma’s help, we have been able to increase the awareness of students of the plight of some farm animals. Students and teachers have also realised that they can play an important part in improving conditions for animals through their every day actions. A donation was made to Brightside Farm Sanctuary.

Follow these links to find out more about animal rights and Brightside Farm Sanctuary.

Rosetta Primary School

Project: 40 Hour Famine

Grade level of students involved: 5 - 6

No. of students: 10

Teacher: Alicia Seinor

Our vision: To help make a difference to the lives of people who are suffering because of extreme poverty.

Our issue of concern/interest: To experience the lives of people living in poverty and raise money to help tackle the causes of poverty.

What we have done: We participated in The 40 Hour Famine run by World Vision Australia. Some students chose to give up food for 8 hours; others gave up comforts such as furniture, technology or electricity for 40 hours. This helped us to understand what it would be like for children who have to go without these things in their lives. Through this activity we realised how difficult it would be for some people to meet their basic needs without the necessary resources.

We raised $1,500 to send to World Vision Australia to support children in developing countries like Cambodia. The 40 Hour Famine is just one of World Vision’s many programs to help people around the world.

World Vision is committed to the alleviation of suffering, and an end to poverty everywhere. Their programs range from helping after natural disasters, like the tsunami in Indonesia, to building fish ponds in Cambodia which help to provide a sustainable food supply for villages. Find out more about World Vision Australia at www.worldvision.com.au.

We also participated in the World Vision Leadership Conference and the ruMAD? Youth Action Conference. At these conferences we learned more about issues such as child labour, youth mental health, animal welfare and human rights.

Next year we will be school leaders and hope to get more students at Rosetta Primary involved in making a difference.

Trevallyn Primary School

Project: Scarves for Indian Orphans

Grade level of students involved: 4 - 5

No. of students: 22

Teacher: Janine Davis and Peg Smith

Our vision: is to support students at an Indian orphanage.

Our issue of concern/interest: is the welfare of some Indian children; their lifestyle and schooling as compared to ours. We wanted to learn as much about India as we could, and share what we have.

What we have done: We completed a comparative study between India and Tasmania and compared our lifestyle to that of Indian students.

After discussing ways that we could make a difference we decided we would like to help children in India.

A guest came to talk to us who had visited the Good Shepherd Agricultural Mission, so we decided they would be a good orphanage for us to help.

The Mission is a farm-based orphanage on the border of India and Nepal. We knitted scarves and beanies for the children, and some of our mothers and grandmothers came to show us how. We surprised ourselves when we made 150 scarves, and we also donated other items, such as clothing and books, to send. You can watch a video about the Good Shepherd Agricultural Mission on YouTube.

As part of learning about India, we had a yummy Indian feast, and we and some of our parents made rice, pappadums, dahl, samosas, chipatis, lahsi, and coconut balls to bring in and share at school.

We have written to some of the students and they have written back to us. We are now sending another letter and some Christmas surprises, including a poster of Ricky Ponting because they love cricket.

“It was amazing to be able to write to and receive a letter back from a student at the Indian orphanage. It was really fun knitting the scarves and learning about India as well. I loved tasting the Indian food. My favourite dish was the butter chicken.” Emily

“It’s really cool because we’re helping, having fun and learning at the same time.” Campbell

“I liked helping this orphanage because it made me feel really good and happy to make a difference for these children who aren’t as fortunate as some of us.” Caris

“I liked being in ruMAD? because I liked helping people feel more wanted and happy. I think that everybody should help.” Abbie

Top photo: Cosmo and Campbell with letters they have received from their friends at the Good Shepherd Agricultural Mission.
Bottom photo: Trevallyn Primary students at the ruMAD? 2009 Youth Action Conference displaying some of their scarves, letters and projects on India.

Ulverstone High School

Project: Lower Emissions SchoolS (LESS) Summit

Grade level of students involved: 4 - 10

No. of students: 50 from Ulverstone High, plus 100 students from other schools across the North and North West Coast

Teacher: Kate Reynolds. Emma Haywood, Simon Voorwinde, Kylie Waters, Tanya Adams

Our vision: To encourage sustainable practice in schools on the North-West Coast through sharing and celebration of practice. This project will encourage students to become active participants within their school and the wider community.

Our issue of concern/interest: Climate change and sustainability.

What we have done: We organised the LESS Summit which enabled students to share their viewpoints on sustainability and transform their behaviour to LESSen their ‘footprint’.

On the day, students facilitated and led workshops for other students (from grades 5 to 10) to work through a range of activities. The following 10 schools from across the North and North-West Coast attended:

Ulverstone Primary School
Penguin Primary School
Latrobe Primary School
Miandetta Primary School
Devonport High School
Ulverstone High School
Penguin High School
Queechy High School
Latrobe High School
Reece High School

Students were encouraged to design a project that focused on sustainability and which could be implemented in their own school. This could be enhancing a project that was already underway or designing a new project. The project should aim to educate students within the school and the school community about the issues of sustainability and climate change and encourage students, teachers and members of the wider school community to change their behaviour. Leaders and community members were also invited to attend and support the LESS Summit.

We have created a ‘LESS Summit’ Twitter account which allows the LESS Summit to be followed by other schools and community members across Tasmania, Australia and across the world. We will continue to ‘tweet’ to show our progress and to include upcoming information about the LESS Summit into the future.

A follow-up day is planned for November, when students from the 10 schools can share the actions they have started in their own schools - read our program. Students will also be working through different Science-based activities including:

What are greenhouse gases?
What’s the best insulator?
Is it sustainable?
How do I reduce my energy bill?

A rubbish-free competition will be held on the day where all participants are challenged to bring a ‘rubbish free’ lunch. Rubbish from each school will be collected, counted and weighed and the group with the least amount of trash will win prizes for their school. Read more about our Rubbish-Free Lunch competition.