Science and Sustainability Fair
On Tuesday 9 September, the College held its inaugural Science and Sustainability Fair to coincide with National Kids Teaching Kids Week. The fair showcased our students’ work in the Women in Science Centre and also the initiatives of the Footprint Sustainability program. Girls from Year 7 to 10 conducted individual and group Science Inquiry investigations during Term 3 and displayed their work for junior and senior classes, visiting guests and students from the Alliance of Girls’ Schools. The finished display boards, which are the result of many months of experimentation, data collection and evaluation were very well received. Grade and overall prizes will be announced at the first assembly next term and the work will also be entered in the UTas Science Investigation Awards, Tasmanian Science Talent Search and CSIRO CREST awards.
We are very grateful to our generous sponsors; the Australian Science Teachers’ Association, Grains Research Council of Australia, Firestarter, Kids teaching Kids organisation and Target, Coles, Hobart City Council, and West Hobart Gourmet Meats who helped make the event so successful.
The fair was officially opened by the National Director of Catholic Eathcare, Jacqui Raymond, and the students were then treated to inspirational speeches by special guests Tino Carnevale from Gardening Australia and Greg Irons from Bonorong Wildlife Sanctuary. Girls from the entire senior school were involved in a Trash to Flash fashion parade in which they were required to dress in recycled materials based on an environmental theme, such as food from the oceans or Fair Trade food. The students embraced this opportunity with spirit and held a rousing Fashion Parade complete with a judging panel and a whole-school rendition of the chicken dance to celebrate free-range chicken practices.
At lunchtime the rain kindly passed and the school enjoyed the sun whilst getting involved in face painting, a sausage sizzle with free-range Tasmanian produce from West Hobart Meat and fresh bread from Howden Bakery, plant stalls, student run stalls, having their ‘selfie’ taken, cuddling piglets and lambs from Brightside and much more. We are very grateful to the visiting stallholders from our Hobart community including Replas, UTas, Brightside, and Travel with a Cause. The afternoon continued with workshops run by Greg Irons from Bonorong Sanctuary and Ben Arthur from IMAS.
The fair aimed to inspire and educate our students about local and global environmental issues and to empower them to make a difference in our community. The girls took up this opportunity and created a fantastic vibe around the school, with all involved energised with the positive energy required to make change.
We hope that this will be the first of many Science and Sustainability Fairs at St Mary’s College, involving our students and community in the essential global change required to care for our planet. As the school was chanting during the day: ‘We will consume Less, and Share Better.’
Mrs Heather Omant and Miss Tanaz Jungalwalla
