Clarendon Vale Primary School (Grade 5)
A Community-Centred School
Established in 1978, Clarendon Vale Primary School has grown into a vibrant learning community of 132 students, around 30% of whom are Indigenous. Nestled in the small suburb of Clarendon Vale, home to just over 1,600 residents, the school is closely connected to the local community. Students often engage with community members through shared spaces, projects, and events, fostering a strong sense of belonging and intergenerational connection.
A central hub of this connection is the GROW garden, a community garden co-located between the school, the child and family centre, and the neighbourhood centre. Here, students and locals cultivate a variety of perennial and annual fruits and vegetables, which are shared among the community. “Our students are learning that caring for their environment and community go hand in hand,” teacher Serena King explains. The garden is also a focal point for community events—including Harmony Week celebrations and seasonal Spring and Autumn festivals- strengthening connections across generations.
Learning Through Nature
Clarendon Vale Primary students are strongly engaged with the natural world. At the community garden, there are weekly landcare meetings and work with the students to maintain the garden. One of the volunteers is a retired entomologist, known affectionately as “Bob the Bug Man,”, teaches students about biodiversity and the unique insects in the area, including the rare red-eyed green aphid. There is also a nearby Bush Tucker Garden which the Landcare group has developed in consultation with the community and assistance from students.
The school’s also has a compost system to collect fruit scraps from classrooms, lunch programs, and neighbouring centres, which are fed back into the garden to support thriving plant life. Students participate in National Tree Planting days, Clean Up Australia events, and other initiatives that reinforce the importance of stewardship, care, and responsibility for the environment.
PROGRESS PHOTOS
The Mural – Celebrating Community & Biodiversity
The mural at Clarendon Vale Primary is a collaborative project designed by Grade 5/6 students to showcase everything that makes the school and its community special. Drawing inspiration from their gardens, the surrounding landscape, and local biodiversity, the mural features:
- A flourishing garden at the base, representing fruits, vegetables, and flowers grown at the school
- Kunanyi / Mt Wellington, depicted with a friendly face watching over the school, symbolising protection, guidance, and the changing seasons.
- A large communal tree, with handprints from every student forming the leaves, representing the importance of working together to maintain a healthy, thriving community.
- Native birds and insects, including the rare red-eyed green aphid under a magnifying glass, celebrating the local biodiversity that inspires learning and curiosity.
“The mural is a vibrant representation of our community and the students’ respect for their environment,” Serena explained. The project ensures every student has a tangible role in its creation, while celebrating the school’s values of Connection and Growth.
Recognition & Legacy
Being named a state finalist is a proud moment for Clarendon Vale Primary School, recognising the creativity, dedication, and environmental stewardship of its students. The mural has already brought the community together, with students, families, and volunteers working side by side to bring the design to life.
The mural’s prominent location in the heart of the community ensures it will have a lasting impact. It serves as a celebration of the school’s values, a reminder of the importance of biodiversity, and an inspiration for students and community members alike to nurture the land, each other, and future generations. The mural will be officially launched during a Community Spring Celebration in the garden, alongside a new sensory pathway.
“We hope this artwork will serve as a lasting reminder of the importance of biodiversity and caring for the environment,” Serena said.
ECO VISION
We want to include on our mural all the things that make our school and community special!
- We have a beautiful school garden where we have garden classes, grow fruit and veggies for our school and community, and enjoy nature. We will paint flowers and vegetables along the bottom of the mural to show this.
- We can see Kunanyi/ Mt Wellington from our school garden, it feels like the mountain watches over us, and sometimes has snow! It tells us what weather is coming. We will paint the mountain with a friendly face watching over the garden.
- We want to paint a big tree next to the mountain, and have all of the students in our school put a handprint on the tree to make the leaves. To represent community and how it takes all of us to keep it healthy and beautiful. This will also allow everyone to take part in the mural.
- We want to celebrate the abundant biodiversity in our garden and paint some of the native birds we see. We also love finding bugs! We have a retired entomologists named “Bob the bug man” who volunteers in our garden, he teaches us about the unique bugs in our area, including the rare red eyed green aphid, which we want to paint under a magnifying glass.
Related Posts
