2014 ESSSN Sustainability Awards Welcome to the E astern S uburbs S ustainable S chools N etwork

Nominees Waste Award A project that has helped reduce waste to landfill created by the school Maroubra Early Learning – Sustainable Maroubra ELC Project Montessori East – Leading to Sustainability Project Bronte Public School – Ramp Up Recycling Project Randwick Public School – Waste Warriors Project

Winner: Waste Bronte Public School Ramp Up Recycling Project XXX The project included a whole school focus on waste education and the purchase of bin lids to fix onto the existing bins, with the goal to significantly reduce the amount of recyclable materials being sent to landfill. Four yellow lids were used to convert bins previously used for general waste into recycling bins. The school is working towards achieving it's target of an 80% reduction in recyclable materials going to landfill.

Highly Commended: Waste Randwick Public School Waste Warriors Project Picture 1 Year 6 Ecomaniac Student Leaders have led the school and staff in a radical waste reduction campaign, their goal is to halve red bin rubbish by introducing waste free lunches every day and by including compost buckets at recess eating time. By doing so, the school now only has its rubbish picked up once a week instead of two, and saved approximately $4, per year.

Biodiversity Award A project that has enhanced school biodiversity Nominees Waterford Primary School – Organic Vegetable Garden Maroubra Bay Public School – Garden of Dreams: If we build it, they will come True Project Kensington Public School – Green Wall Project Rose Bay Secondary College – Native Trees planter box project Montessori East – Leading to Sustainability Project Randwick South Sydney FDC – Frogs' Fancy Home Project

Winner: Biodiversity Maroubra Bay Public School Garden of Dreams: If we build it, they will come true Project Picture 1 Picture 2 Year 4 students were involved in ‘hands on’ activities where the ultimate aim was to increase biodiversity in their school. They built a ‘lizard lounge’ and a ‘Bug Hotel’. This encourages native wildlife, such as blue Tongue lizards, and insect pollinators into the school garden, and reduces the need for artificial pest control. With the aim of increasing awareness about sustainability and encouraging recycling, Maroubra Bay also took the innovative step to only use second hand materials for construction.

Highly Commended: Biodiversity Waterford Preschool Organic Vegetable Garden Project A vegetable garden was installed in the outdoor area to support the children's understanding of growing and producing their own food. The children were involved in adding the soil and the preschool compost to create the garden, watering, monitoring their growth, and have then harvested their plants to add to our cooking program.

Highly Commended: Biodiversity Kensington Public school Green Wall Project Kensington took an innovative approach to introducing greenery at their inner city school. This project aimed to increase biodiversity, provide produce for the schools Kitchen Garden Club as well as to invigorate and soften the look and feel of the playground in an urban area. Students were involved involvement in all aspects of the project including planning, implementing, maintaining and promoting vertical gardens was the key element of the project.

Clovelly Public School – Climate Clever Energy Savers (CCES)/Energy Ninjas Energy Award A project that has focussed on Energy saving or management in the school Nominees

Winner: Energy Clovelly Public school Climate Clever Energy Savers (CCES)/Energy NinjasProject Climate Clever Energy Savers (CCES)/Energy Ninjas Project This project focused on Energy Saving and Greenhouse gas reduction where unnecessary light use was the main concern – the ‘energy ninjas’ noted unnecessary use by other classes, request lights off in the classroom, question unnecessary use of the SmartBoard, and requested technology free days. Students designed their own Energy Ninja calling cards to let other classes know that they have visited, with feedback on their energy use. Through teamwork and negotiation skills, Clovelly have achieved their goals of raising awareness about energy production, greenhouse gases, and energy reduction.

Clovelly Public School – Climate Clever Energy Savers (CCES)/Energy Ninjas Project Montessori East – Leading to Sustainability Project Randwick Public School – Waste Warriors Project Waterford Primary School – Organic Vegetable Garden Rose Bay Secondary College – Native Trees planter box project Student Leadership Award A project that has improved the capacity of students to lead and make change within the school Nominees

Winner: Student Leadership Clovelly Public school Climate Clever Energy Savers (CCES)/Energy NinjasProject Climate Clever Energy Savers (CCES)/Energy Ninjas Project The involvement of the students at all levels of the CCES project reinforced their feeling of being valued, empowered them as school and global citizens able to make a difference. Students proposed the various projects and were always involved in the input-feedback loop on decisions. The projects were narrowed down to the energy focus of the funding and students were involved in the selection of the ultimate project.

Highly Commended: Student Leadership Montessori East Leading to Sustainability Project Their project draws the oldest students into leadership roles where "peer groups" of children in ages ranging from 6-12 work together to develop ideas on growing food, raising animals, and managing waste. The diverse range of projects taken on by students included gardening, composting, recycling, and animal care, which were either immediately implemented or carried over to subsequent weeks. Workshops were provided for background skills and knowledge, however the actions, initiatives, and work were all student-led. It was authentic action borne from an appreciation for nature and a sustainable future.

Judges’ Choice – Overall Effort Maroubra Early Learning Centre Sustainable Maroubra ELC Project The project addresses 6 steps of their Sustainability Strategy (Reducing Electricity consumption, waste, water use, environmental impact and implementing an environmental purchasing policy) The project has been very successful and relies on involvement from staff, children and parents. The centre has become a sustainability hub, for example, children keep food scraps and feed the worms, and parents are told they can dispose of their used cartridges and toners at the centre.

Congratulations to all our 2014 Award Recipients E astern S uburbs S ustainable S chools N etwork