Sustainability | Mount Macedon PS

Sustainability @ MMPS

In 2026 we are excited to further enhance our STEM program through a partnership with Emily from Sustainability Victoria, a qualified teacher with a passion for environmental education and sustainability.

Each fortnight, students participate in engaging, hands-on learning experiences that connect science, sustainability, and the natural environment. Through programs such as River Detectives, students investigate local waterways, explore ecosystems, collect and analyse data, and develop an understanding of environmental conservation and biodiversity.

Students also learn about sustainability practices within our own school environment, including waste reduction, recycling, caring for native habitats, and protecting the unique ecosystems around Mount Macedon. These experiences encourage curiosity, critical thinking, problem-solving, and active citizenship while fostering a strong connection to the natural world.

Aligned with our International Baccalaureate (IB) Primary Years Programme (PYP), these learning opportunities encourage students to be inquirers, thinkers, and caring global citizens. Students are supported to take meaningful action within their local environment while developing a deeper understanding of their responsibility to the world around them.

This exciting addition to our STEM program reflects our commitment to developing environmentally aware students who are empowered to make a positive difference within their community and beyond.

In 2025, the MMPS Waste Worriers proudly implemented a three-bin recycling system across the school, aligning with the Macedon Ranges Shire Council’s waste collection model. This important initiative has helped students develop a deeper understanding of sustainability, waste management, and the environmental impact of everyday choices.

We have also expanded our recycling efforts to include soft plastic recycling and 10c bottle and can collection, further reducing the amount of waste sent to landfill. Through these programs, students are empowered to take meaningful action within their school and local community while developing a strong sense of environmental responsibility.

Aligned with our International Baccalaureate (IB) Primary Years Programme (PYP), these experiences encourage students to be caring, knowledgeable, and principled learners who recognise their role in creating a more sustainable future. Students are encouraged to think critically about real-world environmental issues and take action that positively impacts both local and global communities.

These initiatives have already helped us significantly reduce the number of rubbish removal bins required each week while fostering lifelong habits that support a cleaner, greener future for all.

In 2025, our students, with the support of dedicated parent helpers, transformed the garden beside the STEM building into a peaceful sensory garden. Designed to help cool the area and encourage local wildlife, the space provides a calm environment where students can pause, observe, and connect with nature. With plants to touch, smell, and watch, the garden has become a welcoming space thoughtfully created by our students to enjoy, reflect, and find moments of calm throughout the day.

Aligned with our International Baccalaureate (IB) Primary Years Programme (PYP), this project encourages students to be caring, reflective, and active contributors within their environment. Through hands-on involvement in designing and creating the space, students developed an understanding of sustainability, wellbeing, and the importance of taking action to improve their community. The sensory garden reflects our commitment to creating meaningful learning experiences that nurture both student wellbeing and environmental awareness.

In 2024, our students and school community upgraded the classroom garden beds into vibrant sensory gardens featuring local native and edible plants.

Aligned with our International Baccalaureate (IB) Primary Years Programme (PYP), this project encouraged students to develop as caring, reflective, and knowledgeable learners while building an understanding of sustainability and environmental responsibility. Through hands-on learning experiences, students explored how plants support wellbeing, biodiversity, and healthy living, while helping to create engaging outdoor spaces that can be enjoyed by the whole school community.

In 2023, our students and sustainability team upgraded the garden beds to include worm tubes as part of our commitment to reducing waste and caring for the environment.

Aligned with our International Baccalaureate (IB) Primary Years Programme (PYP), this initiative encouraged students to take meaningful action through sustainable practices and develop as caring, principled, and responsible global citizens. Students learned about composting, food cycles, and the environmental impact of waste, while actively contributing to real-world solutions within our school community.

We are incredibly proud to now operate with zero food waste, demonstrating how student action and environmental awareness can create positive and lasting change.

In 2022, Mount Macedon Primary School proudly installed solar panels as part of our ongoing commitment to sustainability and environmental responsibility.

The solar project supports our school in reducing energy consumption and lowering our environmental footprint, while also providing authentic learning opportunities for students to explore renewable energy and sustainable practices in action.

Aligned with our International Baccalaureate (IB) Primary Years Programme (PYP), the project encourages students to develop as knowledgeable, caring, and responsible global citizens who understand the importance of protecting the environment for future generations. Through real-world connections like our solar initiative, students are encouraged to think critically about sustainability and the role they can play in creating positive change within their local and global communities.

Our solar panels are an important step toward creating a greener, more sustainable future for our school and wider community.