More than 600 students from Prep to Year 12 will roll up their sleeves and get hands-on during Make a Difference Week next week (or ‘MAD Week’) when they plant out 300 new heathland plants on the Cornish College campus.

The plants have been purchased with funds from a successful bid for a $1000 Momentum Energy Junior Landcare Grant.

Tom Humphreys, Cornish College’s Grounds Manager, and parent David Jupp, have coordinated the mass planting, with David kindly volunteering his knowledge and time.

The project will take place over three days (Monday 26 to Wednesday 28 June) and aims to both educate and inspire students. Sessions started with David providing a presentation about the type of animals the plants and new habitat will attract. After a short demonstration of the correct way to plant a tube sock, groups of approximately 200 students each day will dig, plant, tree guard and water their plants.

Tom said: “This is a great start to building an understory below the established gums behind our oval, increasing biodiversity and attracting a broader range of bird life.”

Ms Vicki Steer, Principal said “MAD Week is a wonderful opportunity for students to demonstrate our motto through a range of initiatives and really ‘Make a Difference’. This project directly involves them in improving their 100-acre campus and understanding the difference they can make to their environment. It’s great to see older and younger students working together in multi-age groups and further cementing friendships that span year groups.”

MAD Week 2017

Cornish College reinvents its timetable during MAD Week as students are involved in a range of projects that make a difference at the school and for the wider community. Just some of the other activities taking place next week are:

  • Year 9 ambassadors will lead fundraising efforts for 2 pairs each, collecting new socks for people who are homeless, and a ‘reverse supermarket’, collecting food and personal hygiene items for underprivileged and vulnerable members of our community.
  • Preps will create planter boxes and visit local nursing homes to sing for their residents.
  • Primary students will create a large-scale tree sculpture, and a heart from 5c coins for Love Ya Sister Foundation.
  • The whole school will take part in an annual Book Swap in aid of the Indigenous Literacy Foundation.
  • Students from Years 4 to 12 will be involved in a major construction project to create a 4m high wooden cross with a stained glass effect and solar lighting for the College campus.