Leschenault Region schools

A Living Learning Laboratory: Glen Huon Primary School

Many schools in the Leschenault region are lucky enough to have a wetland or waterway on or near their school grounds.

Glen Huon Primary School in Eaton is one such school, with a unique wetland on the school landscape providing an on-site facility used by teachers and Ribbons of Blue as a mechanism for achieving student learning outcomes.

Before the school was built in 2000, Principal Carolyn Nankervis and the Leschenault Ribbons of Blue Coordinator met to discuss potential educational values of an area of remnant wetland on the school grounds.

It was recognised by the school and Ribbons of Blue that this was an opportunity to retain a wetland that the whole community could enjoy, since many wetland areas had already been degraded or filled in on the Swan Coastal Plain. The wetland was identified as a place where other schools and community groups could visit to learn about aquatic ecosystems and participate in Ribbons of Blue activities.

The wetland was retained for its potential as a living learning facility and as an important wetland habitat for plants and animals. Ribbons of Blue assisted with the identification of learning opportunities that could utilise the area. These included the development of student learning activities related to water quality, aquatic food chains, birdlife, wetland plants and frog lifecycles.

Opportunities to link these activities to the Curriculum Framework were discussed with Ribbons of Blue staff and it was agreed that there were endless possibilities to meet Society and Environment learning outcomes, particularly Active Citizenship. Links were also made to other Learning areas such as the Arts and Science.

The school quickly recognised the high level of advice, information and support that Ribbons of Blue could offer the school to help retain and rehabilitate the wetland. Ribbons of Blue has contributed to the School's Environmental Management Committee since the school was established, and has helped to organise weed scalping and landscaping of the wetland, and continued support for environmental education activities and wetland rehabilitation. Identification of different frog species led to the Slender Tree Frog being chosen as the school mascot.

Participation in Ribbons of Blue macroinvertebrate snapshots over several years and student research projects have identified a need for further rehabilitation of the wetland. Students, teachers and Ribbons of Blue staff are currently working together to develop an Action Plan to rehabilitate and manage the area.

Future actions at this stage involve a rubbish mitigation plan, the planting of a buffer zone using local wetland species to help to protect the wetland from contaminants and drain painting to educate people about potential sources of pollution that can flow into the wetland.

Students, in conjunction with Ribbons of Blue, have completed some activities to help develop their plan. These include a litter survey, a flora and fauna survey, macroinvertebrate snapshots and seasonal water quality monitoring. Ribbons of Blue have been able to provide resources such as survey forms and water quality monitoring equipment.

The surveys and sampling have helped to identify litter and possible pollution sources while the flora and fauna survey have helped to determine plant species that could be used for restoration works to provide habitat.

Primary sources of litter are from adjacent building sites and a small amount from passers by and the school. The students have decided that a bin near the wetland, some signage and drain cover paintings should be actions of the plan. Action planning and associated activities allow students to use problem solving skills and to ultimately demonstrate positive attitudes and behaviours towards the environment.

Students have met English outcomes and experience active citizenship first hand by writing letters to the local Council requesting the erection of bird and duck crossing signs next to the busy road adjacent to the school wetland. Ribbons of Blue has also written to the Council requesting permission to undertake drain cover paintings around the school and wetland. The Shire has agreed to the requests for the drain painting and it is hoped they will also provide duck crossing signs.

As with other Ribbons of Blue activities, drain painting aims to reduce contaminants ending up in the wetland and raise awareness about wetland degradation. It also helps Ribbons of Blue and the school work towards meeting the South West Catchment Council's natural resource management targets for the region, specifically in regards to raising community awareness, understanding and participation in looking after natural resources.

Having students directly involved in sampling and surveys, action planning and wetland rehabilitation has:

• developed positive attitudes towards the environment;
• alerted them to the importance of wetlands in the environment;
• provided opportunities to undertake water quality sampling to monitor the health of the wetland, which can also be used to evaluate rehabilitation actions;
• allowed students to experience the transition from awareness to action.

The high level of student interest and enthusiasm generated by the wetland demonstrates its significance as a unique and innovative learning opportunity.

"We used our Ribbons of Blue flipcharts to help us identify the macroinvertebrates in our tray. There were lots of different critters! That's how we know that the wetland is healthy." - Year 2 student during a "snapshot"

Students illustrated their love of their wetland, which has been inspired by their involvement with and understanding of the importance of the wetland, by writing letters to the media protesting against plans to build a road through part of the wetland in 2004.

Unfortunately, the bulldozers moved in but students and teachers have accepted the pressure of development and remain positive about the part of the wetland that will be retained.

Ribbons of Blue looks forward to continuing its work with Glen Huon staff and students to rehabilitate the wetland to a place rich in diversity of wetland plants, animals and learning opportunities.