Lithgow High School launched a new project for its Year 7 enrichment class on Tuesday, February 13, challenging students to create solutions for Lithgow’s future.
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The project, which students will work on in collaboration with Lithgow City Council and other community groups, asks students to investigate the question, “How can we build upon Lithgow’s history to create a sustainable, harmonious and healthy future that appeals to its youth?”.
Six periods of each fortnight will be dedicated to working on the project. Students will present a report to the council and exhibit their findings at Lithgow Library in Term 2.
“The units that they study in History, English and PDHPE, we’ve managed to bring those outcomes into this project,” teacher Ms Jody Cross said.
History teacher Mr Andrew Finlay said the project would allow students to apply skills they have learnt at school outside the classroom.
“For history in Year 7 the first topic they have is ‘Investigating the Past’ so it works perfectly for a project like this. That’s why from a history point of view we are really excited to be in the project,” he said.
Mayor Stephen Lesslie spoke to parents and students at the launch of the project on Tuesday, which was followed by a sausage sizzle.
“Lithgow Council’s good at doing short-terms plans but we are not so good on long-term plans,” Mr Lesslie said.
"So if these Year 7 students can come up with some ideas we can implement for the long-term it will be something of value to the Lithgow Council and the community itself,” he said.
“If we can get ideas that are way out or adventurous they could well work for us and they are ideas the community and council haven't tried.
“So it’s the innocence of youth we are looking for here.”
The students will be divided into groups and assigned one of the following research areas: manufacturing, energy, agriculture, tourism, health and recreation, small business and education.
The project will be led by four teachers Ms Cross, Ms Gonzaga, Mr Conroy and Mr Finlay.
A letter from the teachers explained project based learning was a method of encouraging students to develop ‘real world skills’ in a collaborative environment.