Promoting ecological conversion and environmental sustainability
At St Paul's, our students and staff take an active role in being stewards of creation and 'caring for our common home’.
Inspired by Pope Francis’ environmental encyclical, Laudato Si’, our school community understands that we have to respond to the environmental challenges of the 21st century with creative and thoughtful planning, education and concrete actions that can make a difference to the health of our planet, all people and all creatures.
Our commitment to being responsible members of Planet Earth is evident in our classroom learning and teaching, the prayer and liturgical life of our school, our resource and grounds management, and whole school planning for community initiatives that contribute to the betterment of our environment and our relationships with one another.
Our St Paul's school community is involved in a range of initiatives that empower our students to support the ongoing care of creation through:
- Student Environmental Committee
- Curriculum integration of environmental awareness and sustainability
- Participation in environmental action and awareness initiatives ('Green Days') – including Clean Up Australia Day, Earth Hour, Earth Day, World Environment Day, Tree Day and National Recycling Week
- Outdoor learning spaces
- Vegetable, herb and fruit gardens
- A waste management system that includes recycling and participation in the ‘Vinnies Return and Earn’ scheme
- Composting of organic waste
- Waste-free lunches
- Eco-friendly infrastructure, such as water tanks
- Dedicated staff environmental committee and staff environmental coordinator
- Staff professional development to support student and school environmental learning and action
- Celebration of the ‘World Day of Prayer of the Care of Creation’ and the ‘Season of Creation’
- Earned Environmental Education Grants to further our environmental projects
- Active members of the Wollongong Environment Network
Our school also has a School Environment Management Plan (SEMP) which identifies and plans for our key environmental actions and projects. These include:
- Reducing the school’s ecological footprint
- Developing a more shared school involvement, awareness and ownership of environmental management and maintenance
- Incorporating ecological themes in liturgy and prayer and acknowledging key environmental days
- Identifying and connecting the cross-curriculum priority of sustainability with teaching and learning programs that connect to outdoor spaces
- Further encouraging staff ownership and responsibility in promoting and supporting the school’s ecological conversion journey
- Encouraging wider community involvement in environmental actions, specifically the gardens
For more information, visit the CEDoW Wollongong Environment Network
