Grants boost for Lilydale campus makeover
Cire Community School’s Lilydale campus is undergoing a makeover thanks to three recent grants to help enhance the outdoor environment and the workshop area.
Turf and planter boxes were installed last week in outdoor shaded spaces to make them more engaging for learning and connecting with others. The project was funded by a grant of $14,363 from the Victorian Independent Schools BGA Schools Shade Sails Fund (Expanded Program). The green turf particularly has brightened up the campus.
Plans are also well underway for two other projects – “the Backyard” and workshop – that have been awarded grant funding and will be completed by the end of the year. Valuable student input has been incorporated in the design and will continue in the development of each of the improvements.
The overall Backyard project will be progressively developed as funding becomes available. The first stage has been awarded $25,000 through the Schools Upgrade Fund. The Backyard makeover will feature outdoor learning spaces with bench seating, vertical garden walls, plants, a fountain with running water, synthetic grass, student murals and a veggie patch. It will be a place for relaxation, de-escalation strategies, physical activities, student self-expression, social interaction and connection, play, running water, student ownership, and places to help people get present-centred grounded.
A third grant of $6250 has been funded through VCAA’s Lynne Kosky Memorial Applied Learning program. It will cover the cost of installing seating in the former workshop at the campus as part of an overall plan to transform the space into a multi-purpose and hands-on teaching, learning and community space.
Peri Dix, Cire’s Executive Manager of Education, said the grants were a wonderful opportunity to “soften” the overall environment at the Lilydale campus and maximise the engagement of students.
“The projects include green, calm spaces where our young people can relax, connect with each other, engage in learning and re-centre after classes,” Peri said.
“Students have helped in much of the planning, so the improvements are their creation, helping strengthen the sense of community and the ‘Cire Way”.
Campus Principal, Stephen Duke added that newly turfed areas have been a significant asset already, providing students with more pleasant outdoor areas to socialise and work.
Some students commented:
“The grassed learning space is a great place to sit and work together with a friend.”
“I love lying on the grass during breaks.”
“It is nice to have a softer area to sit on the ground outside.”
“Awesome!”.
It is encouraging to see Cire Community School moving forward with various initiatives that will provide enjoyable learning environments as well as fostering connection, creativity and ownership. If you would like to learn more about what is happening at Cire Community School, click here to learn more.
