By Tanya Steele
Sustainability is being embedded into the younger generation one star at a time as a small but mighty Yarra Ranges primary school celebrates with community in a special ceremony.
The school attained its fifth star for the Resource Smart Program run by Sustainability Victoria – making it the first school across the Yarra Ranges to achieve all five modules for the program.
Teacher Danielle Lamport said the school began its sustainability journey at the end of 2015.
“I quickly realised this was something that was going to require a team effort,” she said.
“This has been eight years worth of work with other teachers on board as well.”
Students, teachers and the school community at Monbulk Primary celebrated their major milestone on Friday 15 December along with representatives from the Eastern Alliance for Sustainable Learning (EASL) with guest Monbulk MP Daniella De Martino amd Yarra Ranges Cr Fullager.
Ms Lamport said that the process had been a long one, with COVID lockdowns putting a stop to sustainability programs across all schools.
“It wasn’t until the beginning of last year that we could make it a priority again… sustainable behaviour and awareness across the school had to be embedded as modules had to be renewed,” she said.
The Eastern Alliance for Sustainable Learning (EASL) was formed in 2011 to assist member councils in delivering joint sustainable learning initiatives across the Eastern region.
The alliance provides the opportunity to deliver a range of programs typically beyond the reach of individual councils – EASL representatives meet up with the schools to assist in delivering the learning.
Ms Lamport said that at Monbulk Primary they tried to make the program really student focused.
“The students are the future of sustainability,“ she said.
“Our curriculum was revamped as well, we made it a priority that at the start of every year for science, there’s always a sustainability unit,” she said.
Students led and participated in forming and delivering sustainability objectives across the school and Ms Lamport said the student teams performed everything from spot checks to cut down power usage to bringing in extra things they wanted to do.
“We knew that if we hook them in and include them, then we could possibly have them for life on this on this road of sustainability,“ she said.
Ms Lamport was also awarded the winning Teacher of the Year in Primary School Division of the Resource Smart School Program for 2023.
“It was a proud moment and I felt quite humbled – it was a good moment for our school,” she said.
Former Monbulk Primary teacher Miss Renee Landsdale attended the ceremony and Ms Lamport said she would like to thank her for all her hard work in helping the school on its journey to five stars.
Ms De Martino spoke to the assembly of students and said she would like to thank the primary school for having her and that she was proud of every single student for their hard work.
“The Resource Smart Program is really about teaching all of you and all of us – the big kids as well, about issues with the environment and how to make things better,” she said.
“”I am incredibly proud of Monbulk Primary and thank you for having me …Taking care of our environment is so important.”
Cr Fullagar said in his address that 20 schools across the Yarra Ranges were currently participating in the program.
“It’s quite special and for now, your school is the first to get to five stars,” he said.
“I’d like to acknowledge the support of Yarra Ranges council staffing and the wonderful teachers of Monbulk Primary.”
The school assembly was followed by a picnic with family and friends in attendance to celebrate the major milestone.
Ms Lamport thanked several teachers and the student teams for the dedicated teamwork required to fulfil the requirements of the program.
“In the future we would like to step out into the broader community and connect with local groups – perhaps we’ll start with things that are happening at home,” she said.
