School Community Rewards program helps Reynella East College students get back to nature

More than 600 Reynella East College students will better experience nature in action thanks to a recently completed outdoor learning area, which now boasts a fruit orchard and vegetable garden, chicken coop and adventure play tunnel.

The exciting playground additions also include an outdoor learning circle, where junior primary students will swap smartboards and classrooms for open-air lessons in the great outdoors on rustic log seating.

Credit Union SA CEO, Mr Grant Strawbridge, said the cost of creating the outdoor learning area had been offset thanks to fundraising efforts achieved through Credit Union SA’s School Community Rewards program.

“Reynella East College is one of our first schools to participate in the Credit Union SA School Community Rewards program when it was first introduced in 2014. We now have 120 active participants who have helped to raise about $12,500 and another $6,000 nearly achieved in future payments by doing nothing more than putting their trust in Credit Union SA for their varied banking needs,” Mr Strawbridge said.

We know that schools can spend a lot of time fundraising, often with very little return, whereas our School Community Rewards provides a regular financial benefit for a participating school without people having to donate additional time or money

“Once a Credit Union SA member nominates a participating school we regularly contribute a portion of our profits to that school, which it can use to buy new technology for classrooms, playground or sports equipment, or fund some other equally important project,” he said.

Reynella East College principal, Ms Caroline Green, said the school had used previous contributions from the program to fund earlier improvements of the outdoor nature play area, which included the addition of natural bush elements and a dry creek setting ideal for imaginative play and cubby building.

“Having these outdoor learning areas is vital to student development, because it provides them with first-hand experience about the food we eat and where it comes from, and how to care for animals like our resident chickens. It also helps to build confidence, encourages better relationships with peers, and gives students the opportunity to explore and interact with the natural environment,” Ms Green said.

“At a time when we need to make every dollar count, being involved in Credit Union SA’s School Community Rewards is a win, win, win situation because it is good for the school, good for our families, and good for Credit Union SA,” she said.

This is a much smarter way for us to fundraise and these latest additions to our outdoor learning area show that even the smallest contributions can quickly add up and make a real difference to the educational experiences of our students.

About Credit Union SA

Credit Union SA is South Australia’s third largest credit union, with over $1bn in assets, around 49,000 members and proudly employs over 150 South Australians.

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Joann Skene, Credit Union SA, Senior Manager Brand & Business Development, M 0412 098 631, E jskene@creditunionsa.com.a