Students from St Mary’s College, Seymour, have won their share of $20,000 worth of prizes in a national sustainability award for schools.
The ‘Circular Champions’ competition invited students to work together to develop creative ways of re-using plastic bottles while demonstrating the Aussie values of fair go, respect, inclusion and mateship.
It is part of the popular nationwide Aussie of the Month Award – a student recognition program that rewards the characteristics of personal endeavour, teamwork and contribution to community, and is the younger sibling to the prestigious Australian of the Year Awards.
Teacher Renae Mackay said students were excited to bring their ideas to life.
“Inspired by the dynamic, swirling forms of Dale Chihuly's glass art, Year 6 Visual Arts students collected and recycled over 200 soft drink bottles to create a stunning ‘curly tree’ sculpture,” Renae said.
“Students collaborated in self-selected groups, emphasising mateship and the joy of working with friends.
“They showed respect for our environment by repurposing waste into art, and they embraced inclusion by ensuring that every voice was heard in the creative process.
The project fostered a sense of fairness as students worked through challenges together, demonstrating problem-solving skills and respect for one another’s ideas.
“The result is a vibrant, eco-friendly artwork that celebrates creativity, teamwork, and environmental stewardship,” Renae said.
In the spirit of inclusion, St Mary’s Year 6 students extended the project by inviting students from Prep to Year 2 to join in the creative process.
Together, they crafted recycled material bees, moths, grasshoppers and owls to inhabit the ‘curly tree’.
“This collaboration not only enriched the artwork but also fostered a sense of community across different year levels,” Renae said.
“The younger students were guided and supported by their older peers, embodying the values of respect, mateship and fairness.
“This inclusive initiative allowed everyone to contribute, creating a vibrant, shared masterpiece that reflects our commitment to sustainability and teamwork.”
The talented winners received a bumper prize pack of Pilot Pen classroom stationery, including erasable gel pens and highlighters, whiteboard markers, ballpoints, refills and Sellotape safety dispensers.
Pilot Pen Australia head of marketing Jarrad Murray said the company was thrilled to see the excitement, imagination and enthusiasm the students brought to the Circular Champions challenge.
“We have been a proud partner of the Aussie of the Month program for 20 years this year, and we are keen to encourage people to refill their pens when the ink finishes as part of our commitment to a circular economy,” Jarrad said.
The Aussie of the Month program recognises outstanding contributions to the primary school community and broader society, and rewards students who display values such as respect, inclusion, mateship and a fair go.
National Australia Day Council chief executive Mark Fraser said the Aussie of the Month program was delivered by Auspire - Australia Day Council (WA) in partnership with the Department of Home Affairs and the National Australia Day Council and its network.
“We are delighted to support this exciting initiative as part of the popular Aussie of the Month program and extend our appreciation to Pilot Pen Australia for providing these generous prizes,” Mark said.
To sign up and receive a 2025 award kit containing Aussie of the Month certificates, lapel pins and Pilot Pen stationery products, schools can register via aussieofthemonth.org.au