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 Group – responsible for our school vegetable garden and promoting environmental initiative across the school
- 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
- Curriculum integration of environmental awareness and sustainability
- Outdoor learning spaces
- Vegetable garden where students can learn about seasonal vegetables and herbs, how to grow plants and care for our environment, use of compost
- Waste-free or nude-food lunches
- Green ethical catering
- A waste management system, that includes recycling and composting
- A School Environment Management Plan (SEMP) that reviews and implements environmental initiatives across the school
- Active members of the Wollongong Environment Network
- Dedicated staff environmental committee and school staff environmental leader
- 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'
For more information, visit the CEDoW Wollongong Environment Network
