Planting for the future: A hands-on approach to sustainability
The Penola Sustainability team began the year by identifying their short term and long-term goals for 2025 and have already launched the Penola Gardening club. It will run every Monday lunchtime near the wetlands and is a wonderful opportunity for students to cultivate their green thumbs while learning about plant care, sustainability, and teamwork.

Members will be getting their hands dirty by planting, maintaining garden beds, learning tips and tricks to cultivate plants, and exploring eco-friendly techniques such as composting, made possible by a compost system being established at the start of Term 2.

Below is a list of tasks that are planned for 2025.

• Work in wetlands- hand weeding, removing rubbish, removal of bush trimmings, planting of indigenous tube stock, installing pathways, plant identification.
• Greenhouse area- Clearing and weed removal, preparation of raised beds for planting such as adding organic matter and turning over soil. Planting of seedlings (students to choose), mulch, water- ongoing care and maintenance.
• Behind courts- moving and spreading mulch, removing rubbish
• LKE- Design and planting of beds- design a planting plan taking into consideration- theme of planting, plant size, flower/foliage colour, water and nutrient requirements, position (how much sun), plant type (are they easily damaged? Does it recover from damage?), numbers required and position of each species, mulch type etc.

Whether you are an experienced gardener or a beginner eager to learn, all students are welcome to join and contribute to our thriving green space. Our first meeting took place on Monday 24 March, and we encourage others to join us next week. All necessary information, such as contact details of the sustainability captains, can be found in the daily bulletin under the Gardening Club Post. We hope you consider contributing to our school!

From waste to wonder: The power of composting at school
The Penola Sustainability team is excited to announce the introduction of compost bins to both campuses. Currently this process is in its infancy, as the compost bins are currently only present in the staff kitchens and food technology rooms, however we do hope that they can be more widely implemented in the future. The food scraps that are collected will be placed in a compost bay and over time the microorganisms called decomposers will turn this waste material into compost. This will be used onsite by our maintenance team and will be used by the gardening club. However, it is important to point out that only certain scraps can be placed into the bins. Here is what CAN and CANNOT be put into these bins

Just remember… If it grows, in it goes. When in doubt, keep it out!

Sip, Toss, Recycle: A cleaner campus starts with you!
The Penola Sustainability Team is excited to introduce a new bottle and can recycling system, officially launching on Friday 28 March. This initiative aims to encourage responsible waste disposal and promote sustainability within our school community. A designated collection point will be in Mary’s Garden, allowing students and staff to conveniently deposit empty plastic bottles and aluminium cans for recycling. By participating in this program, everyone can contribute to reducing waste and supporting eco-friendly practices at Penola. Anyone that donates on the day will be rewarded with a fun size kit kat!

The Sustainability captains and other student leaders will travel to the Glenroy campus on Monday 31 March and will launch the recycling program with the Year 7 and 8 students, providing younger students with the opportunity to take part in this important initiative. The Sustainability Team hopes that these recycling efforts will not only make a positive impact on our environment but also inspire long-term habits of responsible waste management. We encourage all students and staff to take part and help make Penola a greener, more sustainable school.

Go for gold — and go green! Recycle your bottles and cans
Penola hosts its annual Athletics carnival on Friday 4 April, where students from both the Junior and Senior campuses come together to earn House Points and compete against their friends through various events such as 100m sprint, high jump and long jump.

On this day, a recycling station will be set up (see picture below) by the Sustainability team. Staff and students are encouraged to recycle their used cans and bottles to earn House points.

By participating, you will be helping to support the school’s sustainability initiatives while ensuring that recyclable materials are properly processed instead of ending up in landfill. We encourage everyone to be mindful of their waste and take a moment to recycle on the day.

Together, we can make the Athletics Carnival not only a celebration of sportsmanship but also a step toward a greener and more sustainable school community.

Riley M and Max W
2025 Captains of Sustainability