By GEORGIA WESTGARTH
SHE’S collected all things nature since she was a child and now Brianna Loves gets to instil her passion for science and sustainability onto her students at Hampton Park Primary School.
And for her inspired teachings in the field, Brianna was presented with the Casey Non-resident of the Year Award at the City of Casey’s Australia Day ceremony on Tuesday 26 January.
It’s an award she owes to her colleagues.
“I feel like I’m one of four parts of the school’s Kids Action Wellbeing team who won this award,” Brianna said.
She said she was unsure of who nominated her for the local award but puts it down to the school’s willingness to embrace science and whole school wellbeing activities.
“It’s such an honour and I’m really flattered but it’s definitely an award for the school. I wouldn’t have done what I’ve been able to do without everyone.”
The Emerald resident was moved from her role as a grade five and six teacher to the school’s resident science, sustainability and environmental teacher three years ago.
It is a role that Brianna has pioneered at the school with her degree from Monash University in science, environment and geography.
But it is a position that Brianna always knew would come her way.
“It has lifted the enjoyment I get out of work because I always knew I was meant to teach it,” she said.
“It’s what I grew up doing, collecting feathers, bugs and bones and interesting leaves.
“I have my own natural history room in my home, it’s always been what I’ve wanted to teach children.”
But even before Brianna was offered the position as the school’s resident science teacher she was managing to fit her hobby into almost anything in the classroom.
“I would do science experiments as part of my literacy class. We did activities about tea bag rockets and then write a report,” she said.
Now with her job focused primarily on science, Brianna said she has formed an intense program, something not every primary school gets.
“My students have lab coats and because of this program will go to high school knowing what a Bunsen burner and a test tube is and how to write a science report,” she said.
“It’s about instilling in them a love and curiosity for science.”
Thrilled with the outcomes she sees daily at the school since the science classes started, Brianna now sees herself in some of her enthusiastic students.
“What I teach is about the wonder of the natural world and I have kids come in every lunch time to show me the insects and bugs, bird eggs and nests they’ve found,” Brianna said.
“And they are growing an appreciation for their natural environment and keeping it clean.”
