Fair Go For The West: Success thrives in a garden of learning

STUDENTS identified as becoming disengaged in school have been given a leave pass from the classroom. But not this time around.

Students from Sarah Redfern High School in Minto, are involved in a project in which they are creating an 'outdoor classroom' and are responsible for creating and running all areas of this learning environment. Pictured is Head Teacher Special Education Karen Wright with some of her students (from left) Byron Belts(14), Jacob Grima(15), Isaac Marinas(14), Liam Uluaki(13) and Yehia El-Achrofi(15).

STUDENTS identified as becoming disengaged in school have been given a leave pass from the classroom.

Instead years 10 to 12 at Minto’s Sarah Redfern High School have been inspired to work together in an outdoor classroom.

Teacher Karen Wright said the Green Thumb project had been a great success with students so far.

“The idea for this project evolved out of the observation of a group of students ... who were not succeeding in the classroom and were at risk of disengaging from school,” she said.

“When given the opportunity to work outside the classroom in small projects, they actually excelled and achieved accolades from both members inside and outside of the school community.”

Students are encouraged to work together across all stages of the project, from the visual design concepts through to building the final product — meeting curriculum outcomes in English, maths and technology along the way.

Using funds as they become available, project organisers believe it will take two years to complete.

However, the finalist in the Classroom of the Future (Secondary) category of The Telegraph and NewsLocal’s Champions of the West awards will be able to fast-track the project to just six months if they win the $10,000 grant.

Related links

Visit the Fairgowest.com.au homepage

---

---

In association with our proud partners

---

CHAMPIONS of the West rewards ordinary people doing extraordinary things in Western Sydney to the tune of $10,000 grants in multiple categories.

The 2015 grants program is expanded this year to acknowledge the achievements of Western Sydney innovators and those making a difference in their community and respective fields.

This year’s categories include small business, education, sport, and the arts.

The Sunday Telegraph, The Daily Telegraph and NewsLocal — together with corporate partners NAB, NRMA, Crown, UWS, Origin Energy, Harvey Norman, and TAFE WSi — will reward those excelling in their fields.

Are you a Champion of the West? Click on the banner above to enter!