EcoLearning
EcoLearning at Newbery Park Primary School is a cornerstone of our identity, connecting students to place, purpose and community through rich, hands-on learning. For more than 20 years, our environmental focus has evolved from a simple garden initiative into a thriving, integrated program that brings together science, sustainability and real-world application.
At the heart of EcoLearning is our productive kitchen garden and native plant nursery, where students engage in authentic experiences such as planting, harvesting, composting and caring for animals. Chickens support natural pest management, while worm farms and compost systems help us close the loop on food and organic waste. These experiences are deeply connected to our Community Kitchen, where students transform fresh produce into meals, reinforcing the journey from paddock to plate.
Our work extends beyond the school gate through strong partnerships with local organisations, including environmental groups and land management agencies. Students contribute to meaningful projects such as biodiversity restoration, seed collection and propagation, including efforts to support the habitat of the endangered, iconic Red-tailed Black Cockatoo through Stringybark planting.
EcoLearning at Newbery Park is deeply connected to our Expeditionary Learning approach. This means learning is organised around purposeful, real-world investigations where students explore important topics in depth, work collaboratively and produce high-quality work for authentic audiences. Through EcoLearning, students don’t just learn about the environment—they actively contribute to it. They investigate local ecosystems, work alongside community experts and take action on issues that matter. This integration builds deep knowledge, critical thinking and a strong sense of responsibility, empowering our students to see themselves as capable learners who can make a meaningful difference in the world.