The Big Idea

After much discussion, research and thinking we narrowed our ideas to one main topic.  We all felt passionate about looking after waterways in Australia because they eventually flow into the ocean.
Most of the people in our Archibull team are passionate about recreational activities on the beach and want to keep our beaches clean.

So our big idea is

'Looking after waterways'

We have been learning about the importance of recycling packaging.   Most dairy foods are packaged in recyclable packaging but Australians only recycle around 50% of all materials that are able to be recycled.  A great deal of un-recycled rubbish ends up in our river systems which in turn flow into the ocean.  The impact of this rubbish is catastrophic on marine environments.  Our final project will include lots of visual information about the importance of keeping rivers clean and recycling packaging.

In our research we discovered the importance of trees in farming environments.  Tress help to stop soil erosion, keep river systems clean and healthy, stabilise water tables and provide shelter for animals.  Our final project will include many interesting facts about the problem that deforestation has caused to farming land and the ways in which farmers are addressing these problems.

We were interested to discover that farmer need to keep effluent and livestock out of waterways to help keep our river systems clean.  Our project will include sculpture to represent ways in which farmers are keeping rivers clean and healthy.

Working on our project with recycled materials

Our aim is to produce an artwork that raises awareness about sustainable farming practices, that keep our rivers clean and healthy.  We also wish to raise awareness in the community about what individuals in towns and cities can do to keep waterways clean.  We hope to educate people on the importance of recycling packaging, reusing items, respecting our environment  and reducing the amount of rubbish in rivers and landfill.
Our project will consist of many aspects that wherever possible will be recycled or reused items to reduce the environmental impact of our art work to show our respect for our planet.

Using more recycled products to use in our art work

Fun Fact:  Recycling 125 plastic milk bottles is enough to make one 140 litre wheelie-bin

The Archibull Launch

The Archibull Launch

On Tuesday the 11^th of June Ms Harris, Phebie,  Jorja and Lance travelled to Kiama for the big Archibull Prize launch.

 

 

 We learnt many interesting things during the presentations meeting like:

*The amount of dairy foods, beef, pork and cotton consumed each day by Sydney .

* The Archibull is raising awareness about sustainable farming practises.

 *The Archibull judges have high expectations and there is fierce competition out there.

 

 

After the presentation we enjoyed a cold flavoured milk.  We also had a chance to discuss some of our ideas with the judges and organisers.  We posed for lots of pictures for different newspapers.

 

 

After we left the launch we stopped off for a quick ice cream and some hot chips.

We had a great day, and defined some of our ideas for Brocco.

 

 

Stay tuned to our blog to find out more about our team and our 'BIG IDEAS'.

 

The 'Cow' has landed

With much excitement an announcement was made over our school 'PA' system that the cow had landed.

The unnamed cow spent the night in the office before being unwrapped at our first official Archibull club meeting on the the 16th of May 2013.
Our Cow was officially named Brocco the Barrack Heights Bull and he began a journey around the school to interact with other people.
His first stop was our Principal's office, however our principal Mrs Sarah Rudling was out of the office.  Brocco spent an enjoyable afternoon with Kermit the Frog checking out Mrs Rudling's office.

 

After hanging out with Kermit Archie visited the school office to get to know a few of our lovely teachers.

 

 

Miss Kelly Broomham enjoyed a smooch with Brocco.

 

 

 Ms Elizabeth Scott attempts to take Brocco away from our student leader Jorja.

The staff at Barrack Heights were all very interested in our project and Brocco.  We informed them of the importance of the Dairy industry in Australia.  The dairy industry provides food for many Australians as well as being an export product.
Brocco continued his journey around the school with Phebie and Jorja to visit our school vegetable garden.  There he met many other students and we were able to talk to them about the importance of sustainable farming and looking after our environment.

 

Our student leaders Jorja and Phebie.

 

Brocco met two of our environmentally friendly students who were happy to share with us their ideas on sustainable farming.

 

Hartley and Samara sharing ideas and getting a hug.

 

Brocco continued his journey around the school and arrived at our school canteen.  We had lots of fun sharing some dairy foods with students and teachers.  We also spoke to people about the importance of sustainable dairy farming practises.

 

Miss Bunt and friends

 

 

Chelsea and Josh enjoying a drink of milk.

 

 

Mrs Mullins, Phebie, Jorja and Ava pretending to milk Brocco, even though he is a boy.

 

 

Ava, Cleo, Harvey and Hunter enjoy and ice cream made from milk.

 

 

After an exhausting day meeting students and staff Mrs Harris, Phebie and Jorja are left to ponder the Archibull project, and where our journey of sustainability will take us.  Some things we have decided to focus on in the project are:

• Using recycled packaging for sustainable waste management.
• Planting trees on farms as a sustainable farming practise to look after the soil and land.
• Keeping rivers and waterways clean and free of effluent.

Please check back soon to find out what we are doing.



 

Mrs Harris, Jorja and Phebie.