By CASEY NEILL
KIDS took control of classrooms at Silverton Primary School for a day.
The Noble Park North school hosted its fourth annual Kids Teaching Kids conference on Friday 12 September.
The 10 participating schools included Wooranna Park Primary School, Dandenong primary and high schools, St Elizabeth’s in Dandenong North, St Peter’s College, Cranbourne, Cranbourne Carlisle, Narre Warren South P-12 College and Maranatha Christian School, Officer.
Silverton teacher Emmanuelle Emile-Blake said it was a very successful and enjoyable event.
“Students from seven of the 10 schools prepared nine workshops to raise awareness about a variety of different local and global environmental issues,” she said.
Workshops included the Carbon Cycle, Shark Culling, Seal the Loop, Dolphin Awareness, Introduced Animals, Plastic Not So Fantastic, Dredging in the Great Barrier Reef, Working with Wildlife and Turbidity.
Silverton’s environmental captains Josephine and Drake led an opening ceremony in the gym.
“We were entertained by great performances from our school band and students from our Grade 3/4 reality group highlighting the environmental effects of dredging in the Great Barrier Reef,” she said.
“Students and teachers learnt a lot about important environmental issues and had a lot of fun along the way.
“I received many positive comments from visiting students and teachers about our school facilities and programs.
“The DJing run by the Grade 3/4 Reality group at lunch time was a big hit and the envy of many students, who are now on a mission to bring in similar programs to their schools.”
Ms Emile-Blake said the day’s real stars were the students who spent all term planning and preparing their workshops to present to other schools.
“Workshop leaders also played an important role leading visiting students and teachers from one workshop to the next,” she said.
“Altogether it was an enormous team effort and at Silverton we do teamwork brilliantly!
