Schools in running for environment award
Woy Woy, Empire Bay, Pretty Beach and Woy Woy South public schools are each in the running to win an environmental award as part of Gosford Council's Greenhouse Program.
Based around this year's theme of Leaving Smaller Footprints, the awards recognise the program's environmental competition winning schools and showcase several environmentally-inspired performances from participating schools.
Gosford Council's schools environmental education officer Ms Anni Griffiths said judging of the competition was very difficult this year as the quality of projects and activities was very high.
"Participating schools have shown incredible creativity in how they have addressed this very important topic with their students and students have shown equal creativity in the projects that they have produced," Ms Griffiths said.
"Children and schools calculated their ecological footprints and identified activities and actions that significantly contributed it.
"Schools also explored and promoted ways in which they could reduce their footprint and minimise the impact on our environment.
"Many schools concentrated on developing strong waste management procedures with recycling and worm farming being the focus of their waste management.
"Other schools undertook energy audits and put into place systems to reduce their energy use.
"The impact of food miles has also been explored with many schools working on their vegetable gardens and promoting the idea of eating locally produced food."
Schools that developed a performance, based on the program theme Leaving Smaller Footprints, had a chance to win the Mayoral Award for Performing Arts.
Ms Griffiths said Woy Woy Public School was the only school on the Peninsula to enter the performance component of the program.
The awards will be announced at a special ceremony to be held at Laycock Street Theatre on November 30.
Press release, 17 Nov 2009
Anni Griffiths, Gosford Council