Earthwatch Australia Teach Live

Mossgiel Park Primary School prides itself on its welcoming atmosphere, inclusive practices and a philosophy that allows all students to feel valued. Teachers have high expectations of behaviour and achievement, and provide additional support for all students to succeed in academic, creative and sporting endeavours. A strong focus on literacy and numeracy ensures that all students get the best start possible.

Situated in outer urban Melbourne at Endeavour Hills, the school's facilities include art, English as a second language and Reading Recovery rooms, an information and communication technology laboratory, a library, gym, and sports facilities. A multi-purpose centre is under construction.

The school is a vibrant mix of approximately 420 students with over 25 different ethnic groups and some Aboriginal students. There are also high levels of transience and welfare needs. Students, parents, and teachers share values of respect and acceptance of others, compassion and caring, honesty, persistence and determination, responsibility and cooperation. The school attributes its successful outcomes to the professionalism and hard work of their staff, a can-do attitude, and a consistent focus on literacy, numeracy and student engagement and well-being.

Environmental Education has a high focus at Mossgiel Park Primary School. The mini-farm allows students to have a hands-on approach to science where they can touch, hold and hand-feed different animals, including lambs, rabbits and chickens. Several bird aviaries are a feature around the school. A frog pond at the edge of the school also allows children to study the lifecycle of different animals.

Environmental Education also includes paper recycling, worm farms and collection of food scraps for feeding the schools chickens and other animals. The chickens lay eggs which are collected and sold to the local community; the funds from this allow the school to buy extra feed for the animals - thus making it sustainable. Children have access to a multicultural garden, where they grow crops and eat new foods. Crops are rotated and at the end of a cycle the garden beds are fertilized using chicken manure.