Ocean Shores Public School awarded by NAB for WetlandCare Australia partnership
National awards program, NAB Schools First has this morning announced that $50,000 in awards funding will be granted to Ocean Shores Public School for their inspiring school-community partnership “Wetland Discovery Project”.
NAB Schools First is a partnership between NAB, the Foundation for Young Australians (FYA) and Australian Council for Educational Research (ACER) that rewards outstanding school-community partnerships leading to improved student outcomes.
There are two awards categories: Impact Awards of $50,000 are allocated to schools whose community partnerships are already having a demonstrated impact on students, while Seed Funding Awards of $25,000 are granted to schools that are in the early stages of their community partnership.
Ocean Shores Public School’s Wetland Discovery Project is a partnership with WetlandCare Australia, Byron Shire Council and other environmental organisations to restore and develop a significant wetland area on the school grounds. The school and partners have worked together to undertake weed control, planting and trail restoration. Student wetland guides are trained to take community groups and visitors on educational tours. With access to the wetland trails and a greater awareness of the values of wetland protection, a curriculum package is being developed and site-specific curriculum materials will allow the school to become the centre for wetland education, ecology and conservation.
Regional Executive for NAB Retail Leigh Sellers said this year’s quality of applicants was outstanding, making Ocean Shores Public School an exceptionally inspiring example for other schools in the area and around the country.
“NAB Schools First received 863 applications from genuinely exceptional school-community partnerships around the country. The quality of these partnerships, their originality and their ability to address their specific students’ needs and opportunities is outstanding. It was extremely difficult for our judges to select this year’s winners, and that is what makes the award win by the school such a great achievement,” said Mr Sellers.
As a winner in the Impact Award category, Ocean Shores Public School is now in the running to win the NSW Impact Award recipient and if awarded with this title, will receive an additional $50,000. The NSW Impact Award announcement will be hosted in Sydney on Thursday 27 October.
NAB Schools First began in 2009 and by the end of this year, NAB’s flagship education initiative will have awarded $15 million to 310 schools around Australia. Schools and community groups that are interested in finding out about the 2012 award funding should visit the website www.schoolsfirst.edu.au and join the mailing list today. Further announcements about the 2012 awards will be made early next year.
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