GREEN TEACHER AWARD 2010Green Teacher Award 2010
For the second year running Sanyo Oceania is supporting the National Green Teacher Award. This award seeks to reward environmentally conscious teachers across Australia.
The Green Teacher Award rewards teachers who have introduced environmental projects in schools. Nominations are judged on the following criteria:
- Clear identification of an environmental problem that needs addressing
- Extent to which the aims address the problem and are realistic in scope
- Degree of innovation inherent in the methods
- Extent to which the project involves the broader school community and the level of participation and ownership of the project demonstrated by school students
- Level of effectiveness of the project in implementing its aims, bringing together the school community and improving the environment
- Extent to which the project has facilitated student learning, promoted student leadership and improved the profile of environmental issues in the school community
- Demonstrable commitment of the teacher to the project and to raising the profile of environmental issues in the school community as well as the level of creativity inherent in the project
Prizes
Each winner will receive a three-day trip to Japan to view the world’s largest solar structure: Sanyo’s Solar Ark. All travel and ground expenses are included. Each winner will also receive a Sanyo Eneloop family pack containing a selection of rechargeable batteries and a solar battery charger.
A national winner will be selected from the state/territory winners and, in addition to the above prizes, will receive a Promethean 387 Pro Widescreen interactive whiteboard and PLC-WXL46 projector with GLWLXL45 bracket for their school. Free training will be provided in using the whiteboard for up to four people for one day.
A total of 48 entrants have been received.
2010 Green Teacher Award – VIC and National winner
Wayne Holloway, Ashby Primary School, VIC
The ‘Ashby re-use a shoe’ project aims to educate students about the challenges that landfills pose to our environment, the importance of reduce/reuse/recycle and the small ways individuals can make a difference. Wayne introduced the project to the whole school and their families in 2009. 100 shoes were collected; all parts of the shoes are used to create sporting surfaces in conjunction with the Nike Re-use a Shoe project.
The project encouraged students to think beyond the typical recycling programs and think about how other common items can be recycled.
2010 Green Teacher Award – NSW
Carly-Jane Boreland, Keira High School, NSW
Carly coordinates all environmental initiatives within the school. She leads weekly meetings empowering teenagers to generate their own environmentally sustainable projects. Projects include; reducing water, electricity and paper wastage, regeneration of bushland, organic compost and vegetable gardening as well as planting 400 native plants and improving recycling and rainwater facilities.
Carly has secured numerous grants to ensure environmental initiatives are funded and has helped students win the Enviro Inspiro film competition.
2010 Green Teacher Award – QLD
Andrew Denzin, Tagai College, QLD
Andrew coordinated a marine debris program throughout the Torres Strait; focusing on the removal of rubbish from the environment. The program has created environmental awareness and engaged students in cross-curricular learning. Schools from right across the Torres Strait participated in the program, which also included an in class educational program.
2010 Green Teacher Award – WA
Mark Sachio Merritt, Marmion Primary School, WA
After a fire consumed much of essential habitat near their school Mark saw an educational opportunity for his school. The project assisted with the conservation and restoration of Star Swamp bushland. Students were involved in establishing a plant nursery to house seedlings grown from seed stock specifically for the reserve.
The project has given a sense of ownership to students and volunteers of the community. Mark successfully obtained a grant for the project.
2010 Green Teacher Award – ACT
Jennifer MacDonald, Hawker Primary School, ACT
Jennifer created the Power Ranger program to provide leadership opportunities, instil school pride and empower students to make a difference for a sustainable future. She is instrumental in promoting and implementing the environmental education program; she engages children, teachers and the wider community in active learning, citizenship and leadership.
2010 Green Teacher Award – SA
Lee Grigg, Portside Christian School, SA
Lee introduced a school community wide collection on [then] 5c drink containers with the aim to raise enough money in one year to buy a goat via TEAR Australia. The students were involved in all areas of the project; this enhanced their understanding of why containers should be saved from landfill and gave education around the collection and recycling process. The project has since expanded and is firmly embedded in the school culture; the school is a Wipe out Waste support school hosting workshops for other sites with Lee presenting at workshops and conferences.
2010 Green Teacher Award – TAS
Mario Michael Bergamin, Youngtown Primary School, TAS
Mario’s passion for the environment has inspired many students, teachers, parents and community members. He led the sustainability team in an inquiry about the habitat requirements of the Green and Gold Frog; a rare and endangered frog in and around the man-made lakes in the village. The project aimed to establish a habitat for the frog, develop a relationship with the community, achieve funding to plant riparian vegetation for the habitat and improve the water quality and biodiversity of the lakes.
The students have gained an increased understanding around environmental sustainability and the opportunity to make a difference.
2010 Green Teacher Award – NT
Jacqueline Doherty, Durack School, NT
Jacqueline has encouraged the school community to tackle environmental issues through the ‘Energy Trackers’ initiative. The project aims to reduce energy consumption and the amount of litter being dumped within the school. As a library teacher Jacqueline has immersed students in the programme, inspiring them to take responsibility for their environment.