Student certainly no Wallies

STUDENTS at Maramba Primary School are certainly no Wallies with water.
The Narre Warren school has been working hard to promote water-saving measures in the classroom as well as at home.
Teacher Andrew Wakeling said it was important that students understood that water was a valuable resource that needed to be conserved.
He said students had been compiling audits of how much water they used at home as well as making posters that suggested different ways to conserve water.
“Students have been trying to encourage parents to change some of the habits they have got at home.
“By the end of the term we hope that students understand just how important it is to try and save water. That is a major focus of the unit we are doing this term,” he said.
The water-saving program follows news that South East Water is offering other schools the chance to become accredited water-saving schools under an innovative program.
South East Water is offering accreditation to schools that complete key components of the education resource Water – Learn It! Live It!
The program was developed by Melbourne’s water businesses and is provided free of charge to schools wishing to integrate water conservation into the curriculum.
Water – Learn It! Live It! is tailored to suit primary and secondary schools and gives teachers the resources they need to develop fun and interesting ways to teach students about saving water.
South East Water managing director Dennis Cavagna said the program helped to save water by providing the latest knowledge to assist schools in raising awareness and reduce consumption at home.
South East Water has distributed more than 150 education resources to schools since the program was launched in 2004.
The first five schools to complete the program will receive a trip for one class on the Western Port Explorer, South East Water’s classroom on the sea, where students can learn about water quality and marine issues in a unique interactive way.
These include free interactive classroom presentations from South East Water on the water supply, quality, conservation, the sewerage system and wastewater reuse and free tours of the Mount Martha Sewage Treatment Plant.
For more information about South East Water’s range of free school activities or the Water – Learn It! Live It! education program, contact Kerry Archer, phone 9552 3648.