Creswick North Primary School’s sustainability program is set for a revival as a result of receiving a $10,000 grant last Tuesday.
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The Commonwealth Bank awarded the grant to the school as part of its centenary grants, whereby Commonwealth Bank employees gave $10 million to community organisations through 1,000 Centenary Grants.
The funding was given in celebration of the current and retired bank employees who donated a portion of their income to the CommBank Foundation.
Creswick North Primary School’s business manager, Zelma Brugger, was fundamental in applying for the grant, which was awarded to the school by the Creswick branch based around the school’s vision for sustainability and community involvement.
Principal Marcus Murrell said the money would assist in re-establishing the school’s sustainability program.
“The money will enable the school to enhance our vegetable garden and the sustainability program within the school,” he said.
Mr Murrell said the school is also thinking about purchasing a hot house to grow all its own fruit.
“[The funding] will also assist in purchasing further equipment for our Breakfast Club and enable us to look at developing a student cooking program,” Mr Murrell said. “It would mean that instead of selling the food we produce, we would be using it in our cooking program.”
Mr Murrell said the Breakfast Club, which is run by parents of the pupils, runs twice a week but the school is currently looking at the possibility of opening it at other times, like afternoons, to increase community involvement within the school.
He said the Breakfast Club program was great as it allowed students to improve their cooking skills as well as encouraging them to eat fresh, healthy food.
“We have a view of garden to plate with student engagement and participation,” Mr Murrell said.
“We are excited about what this significant financial contribution brings to our school. It’s going to take a little while. We don’t want to rush into it so we will be looking at other schools with similar programs and how they got them off the ground.
“We are a little school who had sustainability in the past but this has dropped off a little bit, so this incentive will help us to get the school back up to a five star rating,” Mr Murrell said.
The school takes sustainability seriously.
“The kids enjoy getting involved with it too. In the past, we have spent Friday afternoons cleaning up the yard with shovels and brooms.
“They absolutely love the outdoors. They are outdoor, country kids,” he said.
Commonwealth Bank Creswick branch manager Jon Grant handed the cheque over to the school.
“We’re thrilled to be able to support schools like Creswick North Primary School in the important work they do every day in guiding our children’s futures,” he said.