Kenmore State High School
Practices improved:
The legends of the ‘Green Team’
About the school
Kenmore State High School is a bustling campus of over 2,000 students set in the leafy surrounds of Western Brisbane.
The Kenmore Worms
The Kenmore Worms are the the student ‘Green Team’ at Kenmore, led by science teacher Tom McNicol. The students are enthusiastic, extremely knowledgeable, and tenacious. Each term the group focuses on a given theme – from fashion to tree-planting to energy-reduction. Some of the initiatives the students have driven include:
- A ‘clean-up crew’ to reduce littering rates
- Compost bins and caddy collection system
- Native plants audit and eradication of invasive species
- Herb garden at tuckshop
- Solar panels for renewables generation
- Sustainability-themed messages on digital classroom screens
The team also regularly meets to discuss new proposals – from reducing packaging waste in the tuckshop, to simple measures like ensuring all classrooms have whiteboard dry erasers to reduce the use of single-use paper towel and tissues.
Embracing challenges and problem solving
Like in many other schools, the Worms have encountered challenges in their journey to sustainability. The busy workloads of both these high-achieving students, their mentors, and the school staff in general, means maintenance is often more difficult that the initial set-up. The team is currently working on troubleshooting their composting system to ensure that organic waste is being effectively collected and disposed of to make the most of it.
Inspiration and advocacy
“I really enjoy being involved in efforts to make a change”- Emilia
“We started with the clean-up group, we noticed kids throwing rubbish on the ground and I thought, I can really make a difference here” – Sierra
“I’ve always worried about climate change, and find it wholesome that everyone can make a difference. Even when I’m busy, I can always do something.” – Lucinda
