Anxiety about the future, concerns about litter and two years of a global pandemic combined to set Overnewton Anglican Community College on the path to sustainability.
The Keilor school’s hard work over the past two years, which has resulted in it achieving 1 Star status – meaning it has taken its first steps towards becoming a sustainable school – culminated in it being named Emerging School of the Year at the recent ResourceSmart Schools’ Awards.
As part of its sustainability efforts, the school has developed an environmental management plan, formed teacher and parent sustainability groups and introduced new bins, including coffee cup recycling.
Overnewton head of synergy Sasha Koomen said the school was incredibly proud of its award.
“It feels great to be acknowledged for the hard work that began during those really tough years in lockdown,” she said.
“As students and teachers, we thought it was pretty obvious that society as whole had not been looking after our environment.
“We have also been learning a lot more in our classes about the knowledge of our First Nations people and their relationship with land, this has been another reason we are inspired, because we can see that we all need to respect the land if it is going to have a future.
“Overnewton Anglican Community College now officially acknowledges the current climate emergency we are facing as a community and are committed to taking action to avoid the worst impacts of climate change.”
