Epsom PS builds on sustainability success

THREE teachers from Epsom Primary School have been rewarded for their sustainability efforts after recently taking out the Primary Teacher of the Year award at the ResourceSmart Schools Awards 2024.

Gillian Davey, Sarah Chamings and Erin Salm co-earned the recognition for their dedication to sustainability education, student leadership and mentorship of other local schools.

Ms Chamings said it was an extraordinary feeling to win the award on behalf of the whole campus.

“I think that it did a real justice to the community that we have here at Epsom, where we’ve all joined together to create this focus,” she said.

She said the school as a whole continues to busily evolve as it strives for sustainability.

“There’s plenty of opportunities at Epsom and I think it comes through the supportive staff that continue to try and make things happen and keep a green focus within our school,” Ms Chamings said.

“Over the last 18 months we’ve been creating our Sustainability Learning Centre, an outdoor classroom space, which is also known as our Green Nest.

“We’ve got veggie pods that our student action team, the Green Magpies, were able to win a Bendigo Northern District Enterprise $5000 grant to go towards.

“We also have composting bins as well as a frog bog in the works at the moment. The idea is to have every student leave their mark on this school in a positive, sustainable way.”

As a five-star ResourceSmart school, Epsom Primary encourages other schools to reach out so they can knowledge-share.

“We can most definitely organise opportunities for us to go and visit and for them to come and visit and see what we’re up to,” Ms Chamings said.