WINTERS FLAT SUSATAINABILITY JOURNEY
LETTERS OF SUPPORT for Student Lead Action
Team – COMMUNITY LEADERS
Student Support statements for our Community Leaders
Early Years Students
The big kids help us by cleaning the ‘care for areas’. Iestyn Yr 1
Our Community Leaders are the big kids. They have a lot of meetings and tell us about things
like National Tree Day. Lila and Dominic Yr 1 and 2
Our Community Leaders announce the Kooka Awards and they talk at the assemblies. They
organise things like the planting day. Ksenya Yr 2
My sister is a Community Leader. She helps look after the school. Lincoln Yr 1
Chloe and Maisie are Community Leaders. They check that our lights are off at lunch time.
Tyson Prep
On Clean up Australia Day our Community Leaders helped us clean up the whole school.
Maeve Yr 2
Our Community leaders do lots of work for us. They help us be a Nude Food Everyday School.
Ashton Yr 2
I like it when our Community Leaders hand out the ‘Kooka Award’ at our assemblies. It is
always lots of fun. It makes me feel happy to see others caring for the environment. Lila Yr 2
We have ‘Care for Areas’. Our Care for area is on the oval. Our Community Leaders help us
keep it clean. Our school always looks clean and cared for. This makes me happy! Molly Yr 2
Middle Years Students
We do so much with our community. We are part of the ‘Stop Plastic Bags Campaign’, we
had talks from Solar Steve and Energy Bob and lots of us went to the GRIP Leadership
conference. Finian Yr 4
We went to the Sheep and Lamb Show, State Festival and Youth Leading the World
Congress. Liam Yr 4
We have elected community leaders who help our school at conferences and other events
including talking to us about taking care of our school. Oskar Yr 4
The community leaders represent every class. They have meetings and decide how to make
our school better. Blossom Yr 4
Senior Years Students
Our community leaders have been very capable with everything that they are doing.
Jeanette is a great help to all of us. We are now focusing on making videos and documenting
all the stuff we have been doing with sustainability- wastes, water etc. It’s great to celebrate
this. Darcy Yr 6
The community leadership is a great way to look after and care for our environment. Tilly Yr
5
I’m really proud of our community leaders. I think they have been doing a great job at our
school. Tess Yr 6
We have learnt that everyone is a leader. You don’t need a badge to prove it. Elwyn Yr6
The community leaders have regular meetings and set up support programs that support
local and overseas charities. These students are really, really responsible. Alkira Yr 5
Support Letter 1: Teacher
Letter of Support in recognition of exemplary practice in the area of Community
Leadership for consideration at the Resource Smart Sustainability Awards, 2015
5th of August, 2015
Dear Selection Panel,
I am a senior year’s teacher and curriculum leader at Winters Flat Primary School.
Previous to this I have worked in the NT and NSW in classrooms and in leadership
positions across primary schools.
One of the biggest challenges facing any school at a leadership/strategic level is
managing change. Schools can get caught in a cycle of ‘doing things because
that is how we have always done them’. This is not the case for our school. At Winters
Flat Primary School, I witness a community of ‘tyre kickers’, people who are willing to
take risks, buck the trend and stand up for what they believe in. This is true of staff,
parents and most importantly, students alike.
Over the last year in particular, I have witnessed some impressive achievements in
relation to raising sustainability awareness through Community Leadership at Winters
Flat Primary School. In this letter of support, I would like to mention our achievements
in developing student leadership and in building partnership with the wider
community.
During the second half of 2014, staff responsible for driving student leadership saw
the need for change. We found that our student leadership was too focused on
adults and tokenistic attempts at including students in school decisions. Staff
consulted with students and the community to change the face of student
leadership.
The Student Leadership that we see today is one of the most genuine and
empowering movements that I have ever seen. Students are elected as either
Community Leaders, Koorie Leaders or Health Leaders. Students set the agenda and
drive change at our school. The work of these leaders is viewed through the lens of
increasing awareness around sustainable practices.
The work of the Community Leaders is worthy of special mention. These students
conduct audits of waste and energy consumption and they make their findings
available for all. Our Community Leaders make announcements to the school
community about the following day’s weather, they then make recommendations
for layers of clothing to stay warm. It is in doing this that we reduce our energy
consumption as we require less heating at school. Our Community Leaders also
keep students and adults in check with our nude food policy. I clearly remember the
day that I was ‘cornered’ by a groups of Community Leaders who reminded me
that having a muesli bar at school is against our nude food policy and that the food
is most likely full of sugar and not particularly good for me. I never did it again! 
Our school is becoming a Community Leader in raising awareness across
Castlemaine around sustainable practices. We have collected data and raised
awareness around the use of plastic bags at our local supermarkets. We have led
tours around our Kitchen Garden, participated in the Festival of Lamb and the Buda
Harvest Dinner and participated in a project entitled Fridge Henge as a part of the
Castlemaine State Festival. In addition to this we have engaged in reciprocal
learning by inviting a number of guests into our school to educate us. These include
Pip Perry, a farmer in Forbes NSW who campaigns against plastic bags, Solar Steve,
and Energy Bob. This list is not exhaustive.
I am so proud and impressed with the achievements of Winters Flat Primary School
over the last year in particular. To create an environment where genuine student
voice and real change is evident is an achievement worth celebrating.
Regards,
Jackie Haines
Curriculum Leader
Winters Flat Primary School
haines.jackie.r@edumail.vic.gov.au
Support Letter 2: Loddon Mallee ResourceSmart Schools Consortium
To Whom It May Concern
Re: Student Lead Action Team – Community Leaders
I have been working with Jeanette McMahon and her team at Winters Flat Primary
School since March 2013 on the ResourceSmart program. The school has really
embraced the ResourceSmart program and achieved phenomenal success in each module
in the last 21/2 years.
They have been successful because sustainability has been embedded in the daily
activities and curriculum of the school, and implemented by everyone involved with the
school. For example, the teachers developed and introduced the One, Two or Three
Layer day’, taught it to the students, who now run this innovative activity.
Through classroom activities and a curriculum that includes sustainability activities
across all domains and units, the students have enthusiastically been involved in many
activities, including the kitchen garden, developing signage about energy use, and Earth
Hour. They had some activities being led by the student leadership team, such as
developing signage for waste reduction, and some students were also involved in
entering data onto the ResourceSmart website.
In term 4 2014, the school decided to form a student action team to specifically carry
out sustainability activities. An application process was developed so that students with
a specific interest and enthusiasm for sustainability formed the team. This ‘Community
Leaders’ team were presented with their badges at a special school assembly by a local
Aboriginal elder. They then set about deciding what they wanted to do, and in the last
six months have:
 Conducted Class Sustainability Reviews with each class

Allocated responsibility to groups of students to care for particular areas of the
school grounds

Ran a ‘Clean Up Australia Day’ activity

Participated in the Do More With Less conference

Presented an item at Assembly on Earth Hour and Harmony Day

Published newsletter articles and presented regularly at school assemblies

Developed an Indigenous garden

Celebrated World Environment Day

assisted with the Youth Leading the World Congress which was hosted by Winters
Flat Primary School
This list does not show the number of meetings the students have had and the
organisation that has gone into each of these activities. The students are to be
commended for their enthusiasm and inspiration for the work they have done. Their
legacy will be to inspire other students to take on the responsibility next year and so
keep the enthusiasm going.
I am extremely pleased to be supporting this application from the school to the
ResourceSmart Awards for the category of Student Action Team of the Year. Most of
these students have been involved in sustainability activities for 3 or 4 years, but their
leadership in 2015 is exemplary, demonstrated by their achievements. It is wonderful
that the school supports the Community leaders in their sustainability quest, and
encourages them to participate and implement a range of activities across the school,
and help to embed these practices into their daily activities.
I am more than happy to answer any questions you may have.
Yours sincerely
Ellen White
ResourceSmart Coordinator, Loddon Mallee Region
Support Letter 3: Teacher from another school
Mark O’Sullivan
St Mary’s PS
Templeton St
Castlemaine 3450
2/08/15
To Whom it many concern,
I am writing on behalf of St Mary’s Primary School, Castlemaine. After attending the ‘Youth
Leading the World’ conference the other week, I was moved to write a letter of thanks, support and
admiration.
Firstly, thank you for hosting. From the outset, my students and I felt welcomed and comfortable as
your students greeted and then escorted us to the conference. My senior students were obviously
impressed and these little touches throughout the conference inspired and showed them what
confident leadership looks like. I would also like to thank you Jeanette. Your leadership overall at the
conference whether that be as someone promoting sustainable ideas and knowledge or with making
the conference flow, or helping engage and inspire the students really made it work. Your offers of
assistance with St Mary’s sustainability journey and the willingness to share and offer ideas and
resources will be gratefully accepted.
Walking around your school was an inspiration for what a concerted effort at promoting and
implementing sustainable ideas can look and sound like after years of hard work and dedication on
many levels. Your student’s knowledge, acceptance and enthusiasm for all things sustainable were
amazing. It felt easy and ingrained. The signage around the school, the fact that kids wander over to
the compost bins to get rid of their fruit peels etc without thinking, the respect for the veggie
gardens and also the daily weather reports to remind the other students about what to wear to cut
down on power usage all combined to show me that the message can get through. Their
‘Sustainability School Tour’ was educational in a friendly way. It was obvious through this and your
student’s offerings throughout the conference that your sustainability journey is one that everybody
is on together. Not something that is taught as an add-on, but a message that is embedded in
Winters Flat’s everyday life and a way of thinking that will stick with your students as a gift for them
and the planet forever.
Thank you and kind regards,
Mark O’Sullivan
Support Letter 4:
6 August 2015
To Whom It May Concern,
Re: 2015 ResourceSmart Education Awards – Winters Flat Primary School
I write with regard to Winters Flat Primary School’s entries in the 2015 ResourceSmart
Education Awards.
Winters Flat Primary School partnered with OzGreen by hosting a Youth Leading the World
(YLTW) Congress in late July 2015. The Congress included identifying local and global
sustainability issues, measuring eco-footprints, visioning the future, brainstorming change
ideas and developing action plans to take individual and community leadership on
sustainability. Topics covered included biodiversity, energy, water, waste, food, transport
and climate change. Students will present their action plans to the community in early
September 2015. The Congress received local media attention, including being showcased
on the front page of the Castlemaine Mail.
The students from Winters Flat were very enthusiastic and dedicated during the Congress.
The student community leaders at Winters Flat prepared for and conducted a tour for other
participating primary schools from the Mount Alexander Shire, showcasing the sustainability
features at their school. Their teacher Jeanette McMahon was a key driver in getting the
Congress off the ground and went above and beyond what was required. I have never seen
a teacher as dedicated and committed as Jeanette.
Winters Flat have been very active in improving the sustainability of their school and
involving the community on their exciting journey. The school has their own Sustainability
Group to assist with guiding their sustainability programs and activities, which includes
students, teachers and parents. The school is renowned in the Loddon Mallee region for
taking strong action on climate change.
The school is undertaking many initiatives to reduce their carbon footprint, including the
Stephanie Alexander Kitchen Garden Program, a Zero Waste Policy, students designing and
displaying signs about biodiversity and water and energy use, installing renewable energy
systems and water efficient products, and holding litter collection and tree planting days.
I wish Winters Flat Primary School every success with their entries in the 2015
ResourceSmart Education Awards.
Yours sincerely,
JAY SMITH
Youth Leading the Mallee Coordinator
Support Article 5: ResourceSmart Newletter
ResourceSmart Newsletter TERM 2 2015 – Winters Flat PS is a feature
article
Winters Flat Primary School makes sustainability their business
“The leadership at Winters Flat Primary School is incredibly focused on sustainability
and this is built upon by all staff and students and reaches out into the community.”
Rachel McConville, Projects Officer for the Loddon Mallee Waste and Resource
Recovery Group.
Winters Flat Primary School has been involved in many sustainable and
environmental initiatives over the years, and in December 2013 it became a
ResourceSmart School.
When ResourceSmart Schools coordinator, Ellen White, met with Winters Flat
Primary School for the first time she was struck by the enthusiastic, knowledgeable
and connected teachers and parents in their 12 person sustainability team. The team
is led by two passionate and dedicated staff members - Bianca and Jeanette.
Over the past 18 months, the school has completed all five ResourceSmart Schools
modules (four in one month) and is close to attaining stars.
“Winters Flat Primary School is a very enthusiastic school with a commitment to not
only reducing their impact but also work with the community to build a sustainable
future” Ellen White Loddon Mallee ResourceSmart Schools Regional Co-ordinator.
Winters Flat Primary School has a well established kitchen garden program that
helps teach students about propagation, growing, food preparation and nutrition. The
gardens are now part of the school curriculum.
The student leadership group is responsible for implementing part of the school’s
energy efficiency policy - wearing “layers” to save energy. At the end of each day the
students announce the weather forecast for the following day and how many layers
everyone should wear. The management support the initiative by setting the
temperature thermostat slightly cooler during the winter months and slightly warmer
during the warmer months.
2014 was a big year for Winters Flat Primary School as they hosted a workshop for
teachers from other ResourceSmart Schools which included a school tour. Winters
Flat Primary School also conducted waste and litter audits with the Loddon Mallee
Waste and Resource Recovery Group in which the whole school was involved.
Ongoing regular audits have successfully improved littering in the school grounds.
Support Letter 6: Parent
Dear To whom it may concern,
Re: Support Letter for Winters Flat Primary School Resource Smart Program
In 2012 Winters Flat Primary School signed up to the Resource Smart – Sustainability
program. I was one of the parents that were involved from the very beginning. I was
very excited that such an amazing program had started up at my children’s school. Not
only is sustainability important for the environment, but for the future of my children
and all generations to come. If we educate our children now we can change the
direction of where our environmental care is going which will be our children and our
future leaders.
I would like to take this opportunity to congratulate and support Jeanette McMahon
for all her hard work. She is a wonderful leader and allows others to step up and lead as
well. Her enthusiasm and dedication is infectious and due to her ongoing commitment to
having our student’s voice heard our young leaders are stepping up. She has also
included our local community and other local schools, so as one whole community we are
moving forward together. An incredible achievement.
I am a proud aboriginal women and leader within our community and the sustainability
program goes hand in hand with our culture and our connection to country. How we are
responsible for the care of country is everyone’s business. By working as a whole
community and involving our children within our schools we are creating real change. By
reducing our energy, waste and water and increasing our biodiversity results are
amazing. We are so happy that part of this is to also have an indigenous garden which
myself and Aunty Julie has been involved in creating.
The Student Leadership Program and the ‘Youth Leading the World’ congress my
children have been involved in both. They are passionate leaders and care about the
environment and want to actively be involved in this. Winters Flat has encouraged them
to do this and the change in them is incredible.
Also because of the Stephanie Alexander Kitchen Garden Program one of my daughters
wants to be a chef when she grows up and also wants to be involved in a local Indigenous
cooking program we have in our community. She has direction now and most importantly
knows she not only is good at something but it holistically encompasses her beliefs.
All my four children have attended Winters Flat Primary school it is a fantastic school
with very passionate teachers. We are proud to be part of this school and so does the
rest of the Koorie Community. It has the highest attendance of Koorie kids in the
Shire. We look forward to the next chapter of this sustainability journey for myself
and my children, we look forward to continue to work with the school to bring about a
better tomorrow for everyone.
Thank you for listening
Best wishes,
Kathryn Coff(mother)
Ph: 0432656007
Support Letter 7: Teacher 5/6
August 9th 2015
To: Whom It May Concern
I am a teacher at Winters Flat Primary School and have been for many, many years.
During my time here I have noted some remarkable changes within our teachings and
understandings in regards to our environment. We have always tried to be innovative,
but in recent years this has escalated to new heights. Involvement in the Resource
Smart Program has allowed us to better understand the need for direct teaching and
learning about sustainability.
The areas of water, waste, biodiversity and energy have become a part of our
curriculum and are constantly referred to in general classroom activities and
discussions. Students easily discuss environmental issues and are generally concerned
with doing the right thing.
The most obvious difference is the students’ awareness of environmental issues and
the care they take in the classrooms and around the school. The school ground is clean
and cared for – rarely any rubbish to be seen – assisted by each grade having ‘care for’
areas. It is very noticeable as, in the past, we tried really hard to encourage students
not to bring inappropriate wrappers etc. and to not litter our school grounds with very
little effect. The use of the three waste containers in our room has really assisted the
students in understanding the reduce, re-use and recycle philosophy.
I really enjoy teaching Science and have tried hard to incorporate Resource Smart
areas into our practical activities. It has assisted students in their understanding and
is much enjoyed.
Our student leadership team are very active and aware, readily discussing
environmental issues and what the school can do to help.
We have had a very invigorating journey so far, thanks mainly to Jeanette McMahon
and her small team of helpers, and we look forward to continually ‘upping-the-ante’ and
ensuring our students are well equipped to be environmentally aware and considerate in
their future lives.
Wendy Oates
Grade 5/6 Teacher
Support Letter 9: Teacher
To Whom it May Concern,
As a classroom teacher at Winters Flat Primary School I was asked to reflect on
the impact, achievements and changes that I have witnessed in our school over
the past two and a half years. I thought- ‘crikey’ what on earth could I write??
So I sat down at my computer and spent such a wonderful time trawling
through two years of incredible photographs which was a pictorial testament
to the work that we had been doing and the achievements of the students. As
they say, ‘the pictures tell the story”.
During this time our curriculum focus has been in the area of Water,
Biodiversity, Energy and currently Waste. I feel that the ‘themes’ have been
truly embedded into all areas of the curriculum, Literacy, Maths, Science, Art,
Kitchen/ Garden program and even Health and Physical education.
Curriculums have been built and expanded at each level within our school.
At school level, changes such as installing water tanks fed, from the drinking
taps, sustainable/edible/cultural Gardens developed, Removal of rubbish bins
and the establishment of a 3 way waste system in every classroom/staffroom
established, a culture of nude food prevalent among students and staff, the
establishment of defined areas for each classroom to care for and overall a
general ‘corporate culture’ of pride within our school.
This year the student Leadership has been developed and expanded, with an
expectation on students to take on greater responsibility and roles within our
school community, this has led to a louder student voice and a collective
feeling of belonging and responsibility from all the student body. The elected
students have accepted their roles with full sincerity, and pride, and are
achieving incredible things.
On a more personal level I have to admit that I am a ‘consumer’ and was really
quite ignorant in the area of sustainability so this has been a massive journey
of learning for myself also, with the students leading the way and teaching me
in reciprocity. I am proud to say I now have a recycling bucket and a ‘Chook’
bucket in my kitchen for food scraps.
So…. A journey began!
How exciting to be part of an adventure where students, teachers and families
are all learning from each other.
I am excited to think, where next….
Karen Brooks
3/4 Teacher
Winters Flat PS
Support Letter 10: Parent
4/8/15
To whom it may concern,
My daughter attends WFPS, and I would like to congratulate the school on the efforts they
have made in embedding sustainable practices into their curriculum. The school really
"walks the walk" when it comes to these issues, and I have been impressed with their whole
school approach, which has been led by some very dedicated teachers.
My daughter recently was part of the Youth Leading the World conference, which she
thoroughly enjoyed. The conference has helped her confidence, and she came home both
nights eagerly sharing ideas. She was proud that her school hosted the gathering, and has
since been looking up all sorts of related information so she can learn more about the
issues. She feels supported in expressing her ideas and views about the future, and as a
parent, that's something I am glad is being encouraged.
The Stephanie Alexander Kitchen program has also been an amazing part of her learning. I
am continually impressed by the breadth of this program, and the effect it has on students.
Being able to be part of the food cycle -planting, growing, harvesting, preparing and eating has been such a powerful way to teach children, and it always seems that the children are
as integral to this process as the teachers - something the school facilitates really well.
We have also appreciated the way the school have implemented the Cross curriculum
Network meetings - sustainability and Koorie culture focus, recognizing the many aspects of
sustainability, and the significance of indigenous culture - for example with the Aboriginal
perspective on energy from a local elder, and a Acknowledgements to Country smoking
ceremony with elders showing the children what plants are used and what they symbolise.
Finally, my daughter really enjoys all the sustainable arts projects the school take part in one that comes to mind was Fridge Henge - which she relished showing her grandparents
and talking them through all the various aspects and meanings.
Sincerely,
Lisa D'Onofrio
7 August 2015
Parent Letter 11:
To whom it may concern,
I understand that Winters Flat Primary School is submitting an application to the
ResourceSmart Schools Awards and would like to provide some feedback in support of this
application.
I have two children at the school, both in grade 4 and over the past 18 months have been
impressed by their involvement in such programs as SAKGP and the student leadership
programs.
Both of my children have been inspired by the things they have been learning at school to
try to make a difference to the environment. They often come home with ideas on things
we can be doing at home and within our community to ensure that we live more
sustainably. They have confidence in themselves and have developed strong belief that the
things they do can have an impact and make a difference, not only to the environment, but
to the world around them.
Yours sincerely
Natalie Stuchbree
Support Letter 12:
7 August 2015
To whom it may concern
I am writing in support of Winters Flat Primary School’s application to the ‘ResourceSmart
School Awards’.
One of the aspects of Winters Flat Primary School that we most value is the school’s ongoing
and genuine commitment to engaging staff and children in a range of environmental and
sustainability issues, including reducing energy and water usage, reducing waste, and
increasing biodiversity in the local school environment.
My children have participated in a number of sustainability themed projects and activities in
the 18 months since coming to Winters Flat. They talk about these activities at home—it is
obvious that they are really thinking about the issues and see them as important, as well as
enjoying what they are doing.
The Stephanie Alexander Kitchen Garden Program is a powerful way of switching kids on to
sustainability and health issues. It is also provides enjoyable, hands-on learning through
which they can develop a range of social, team work and practical skills. This sort of holistic
and approach to learning is really effective.
It is fantastic that the school’s ‘Leadership Program’ gives individual students opportunities
to take leadership roles in implementing sustainability initiatives within the school, and that
some of the school initiatives are reaching out into the wider community, so that students
can experience how they can be active members of society and help bring about positive
change.
I feel lucky to be part of the Winters Flat community, and hope that the school will receive
support to continue and expand its sustainability program.
Yours sincerely,
Nicola Fortune