Sustainable Schools

Core Module: Building the Foundations of a Sustainable School

The Core Module is an important step for the development of Education for Sustainability (EfS) and sustainability practice in schools. The module is often referred to as the planning and strategic process for a whole school approach to sustainability. It is designed to be an integral part of your school's strategic planning process in order to set a strategic emvironmental management plan (SEMP). The Core Module includes:

• The collection of baseline data and resource use (a snapshot of the current state of school);
• An outline of opportunities for improvement and recognition of prior achievements;
• Stimulating professional learning for teachers about the direction and purpose of education for sustainability and strategies to develop and overall long‐term plan for sustainability for the school;
• A visioning process for school staff and active school community participants;
• The development of a Strategic Environmental Management Plan (SEMP);
• The setting of goals and targets for each resource module;
• The development of an action plan for all resource modules, covering the 3 areas of: school organisation/operations, curriculum and wider school community engagement;
• Creation of a sustainability policy to support Education for Sustainability (EfS) and sustainability practice.

On completion of the Core Module, schools will have a set of strategic documents and action plans that allows them to map their way to sustainable practices. The CERES core module also has engaging education for sustainability activities for teachers and students to create whole school behaviour change

If you are interested in undertaking the Core Module in 2012, please fill in the application form on the following link.

http://sustainability.ceres.org.au/RSAuSSIVic2012

Applications are due by 5pm on 25th November. For more information about funding in 2012 please read CERES and ResourceSmart AuSSI Vic in 2012.

If you are a SV funded CORE module school in 2008-2011 please fill out the survey on the following link.

http://sustainability.ceres.org.au/ResourceSmartSurvey

'Control your Carbon Dioxides' by Cara Thomas (below) was entered in the 2010 in the Futureshots Film Challenge. This film competition answered the question, "What is Sustainability?". Creating a film is a great way to get your school community excited about sustainability! To view more videos, visit: http://www.futureshots.com.au/?screening