As in previous years, the students of St Francis School, Victoria, participated in the European Week for Waste Reduction.

This year they had to focus on packaging waste and so in preparation for this week the upper classes researched the harmful effects of Styrofoam and aluminium foil on the environment. 

Activities carried out during the EWWR included visits to various schools to pass on information, in some classes also showing the host students how to make things out of packaging waste; a visit to an old people's home, presenting the elderly there with flowers made out of packaging waste too; "selling" shoe boxes turned gift/storage boxes, of which the proceeds were donated to Dr Klown organization, dedicated to provide clown doctor services to sick children in hospital.

The students were also taught the importance of buying in bulk to decrease waste, and on World Children's Day were given a stainless steel drinking bottle, so as to do away with plastic bottles.

Year 6 students wrote to a number of pharmaceutical companies, asking them what they are doing to try and reduce aluminium foil packaging from different tablets.

The activity which was taken on board with great enthusiasm was the large work of art assembled in the school yard, out of different packaging material:  plastic, brown paper, newspapers, cardboard, Styrofoam, bottles and tops, bubble wrap, construction waste. 

All in all, it was a very beneficial learning experience.