Students from the Pakenham cluster of schools at the RSPCA educational facility in Burwood.YOUNG leaders from Pakenham district schools recently went on an excursion to the Burwood RSPCA educational facility.
Students and staff were shown a short slide presentation and were educated about the work of the RSPCA and the current situation regarding the abandonment and care of animals.
They met the animals as well as the representatives of the facility and toured the vet clinic, hospital, administration buildings, shop and education centre.
The Pakenham cluster comprises Pakenham Secondary College, Pakenham Hills Primary School, Officer Primary School, Nar Nar Goon Primary School and Pakenham Consolidated School.
Pakenham cluster educator coordinator Tanja Watts said it was part of an innovation and excellence project the schools had been working on together for some years now, on curriculum and other initiatives, focusing on the middle years.
“One of the initiatives has been the cluster student leadership team,” Ms Watts said.
“Cluster captains from all five schools meet regularly and work on a variety of projects such as fundraising and the promotion of the cluster’s commitment to the You Can Do It program.
“Most recently the cluster captains were visited by a representative from the RSPCA and they discussed the work of the organisation and responsible pet ownership.
“In response the team organised a cluster casual dress day on 5 August to raise money for the RSPCA.”
Ms Watts said schools made an outstanding effort during the week leading up to this day, having organised and led an RSPCA fundraising drive.
“As a cluster we raised over $2050, plus 115 towels and blankets, more than 140 tins of pet food and more than 33 kilograms of dry food,” she said.
“The RSPCA was blown away by the size of the cluster’s donations, saying it was by far the largest they have received from a school group. They were most appreciative.”
