Last year the school gained funding through the Commonwealth Government's Australian Government Quality Teaching Programme for a mathematics project based on `real life problem solving'.

The `Square Metre Garden Project' will be used to develop the area left by the removal of two portable classrooms and provide an opportunity to enhance teaching and learning within the school.

Students will play an active role in all stages of the project, from planning through to construction.

They have been provided with a set of parameters for the project which specify that there must be a garden for every classroom plus an extra for special projects, all gardens must be the same size, students need to be able to reach the centre of the garden without stepping on the garden and the garden beds must be raised.

Since the beginning of May, every classroom has been planning and drawing designs for their ideal school garden and winners from each year level were selected at the end of last term.

The final design for the garden will be based on one or more of the winning designs.

Program Co-ordinator, Mark Antonio said the project had generated a lot of excitement amongst students.

``There has been a very positive reaction to the project and students have been enthusiastic throughout the planning process,'' he said.

``They like having a chance to take ownership of something and the garden will be something they have created.''

This term classrooms will decide on a theme for their garden and visit a nursery to determine suitable plants.

Mr Antonio said students would be required to consider a number of criteria when selecting the plants.

``When they visit the garden centre or nursery they will need to look at things like the cost of the plants, their tolerance to drought, the size they will grow to and how much care and maintenance they require,'' he said.

``We are trying to beautify the area left by the removal of the classrooms so they also need to consider how the plants will look in the gardens.''

In order to make decisions relating to the project, students have been required to utilise mathematical skills including measuring and estimating.

Mr Antonio said as a result, many students had developed a renewed interest in maths.

``The idea is to provide motivation for students who may not be that interested in maths and allow them to develop deeper levels of thinking,'' he said.

``Because this is real life problem solving they can see a purpose and are enjoying doing the maths that's involved.''

In addition to assisting students with maths, the `Square Metre Garden' will be used by the school as an ongoing resource.

Classrooms will be required to maintain their gardens which will contain a range of plants including vegetables and fruit trees. The plants will be used in science classes and to teach students about healthy eating.

Construction of the gardens is expected to commence in term four and be completed by the end of the year.

Funding for the project only covers the educational expenses and does not provide financial assistance for material, plants or labour.

In order to complete the project, the school will be seeking donations and contributions in the form of materials, plants, labour and tools.

There is also an opportunity for the wider community to involve themselves in the construction and maintenance of the garden.