Princes Hill Secondary College

Urban: located in Carlton, Victoria
School size: 817
Phone:: (03)9389 0618
Fax: : (03) 9387 0108
School website: www.phsc.vic.edu.au/

“Help the environment, there’s no harm in trying it!“, Year 10 advertising slogan

Program highlights, including Educational and Social Outcomes

Partnerships
Numerous classes and Student Action Teams worked with a large number of organizations to improve the quality of their local waterway, Merri Creek. Organisations included: City of Yarra, Merri Creek Management Committee, Friends of Merri Creek, City of Yarra Youth Services, WaterWatch, Environment Victoria, CEPA Trust and Landcare

Year 8
Science classes undertook water testing with their local WaterWatch team.

Year 9
Students focused on plastic bag minimization – running an awareness raising program and used resources from Environment Victoria. Science classes studied plastics and recycling, which lead students to survey the local shopping complex – including retail managers, shoppers and shop assistants. Results will be collated and presented to the Year 9 assembly late in 2003.
One of the English classes wrote submissions in support of a plastic bag levy for the Senate Enquiry.
The Student Action Forum conducted fundraising activities for calico bag alternatives and ran a design competition. The program was supported by the City of Yarra and Landcare. Students will plan a business strategy with senior Business Management students. Year 9/10 Environment Action elective studied the creek and wetlands as a filtering system for litter coming off streets with the Merri Creek Management Committee. They worked as mentors and peer leaders with Year 7’s to revegetate the creek.

Year 10
The Year 10 Forum decided one way to minimize litter of drink containers in the creek was to introduce recycling in the school. They promoted the campaign throughout the school and local community, and conducted fundraising campaigns to purchase wheelie bins for recyclables.
Six students have been sponsored to participate in a Young Leaders Program by the City of Yarra, and will educate Year 7 students about the relationship between litter and the creek.

Year 11
Psychology students investigated public attitudes to cigarette butt littering – dividing into groups; they surveyed café patrons, café staff, and promoted a ‘no butts’ message with personal ashtrays offered to smokers.