Elwood Primary and St Michael’s Grammar School have starred in the Victorian Resource Smart School Awards announced last week.
St Michael’s Grammar School won the School of the Year award in the Campus Infrastructure and Operations category.
The judges noted the school’s overall commitment to environmental sustainability.
To better understand the school’s waste habits, students audited bin contents and staff monitored busy areas in the school to determine where to put bins for maximum effect.
Based on that audit the school has introduced 8 new waste streams: paper and cardboard, plastic bottles, metal cans and tins, food packaging, glass, coffee cups, landfill, and organics.
Between 2022 and 2023 the school diverted over a tonne of waste from landfill.
The 449 solar panels around the campus produce more energy than what’s used in school hours, and during the holidays excess energy is exported to the electricity grid.
Elwood three were finalists in teacher of the year
Elwood Primary School teachers Sarah Lohmann, Jacq Vawdry and Anna Morris (pictured top) were finalists in Teacher of the Year category.
In 2023 this trio led the school to 3 Star status and got the whole school involved.
They successfully advocated for sustainable lighting and reducing waste across the campus. They taught their colleagues about energy efficiency and shared practical ways to incorporate this content into the curriculum.
Under this team’s wing, the school’s Sustainability Leaders wrote a play featuring local flora and fauna as main characters and presented it at the school’s Green Day event.
