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
- Adventure playground
- Vegetable, herb and fruit gardens
- Chicken coop
- A waste management system that includes recycling
- Tidy Tuesdays – promoting waste-free lunches
- Eco-friendly infrastructure – including solar panels
- 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
- Award-winning participation in the annual Moss Vale show for our fruit and vegetable garden produce
- 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:
- Introducing of hand dryers to help reduce use of single-use paper towels and packaging across the school
- Reducing single use plastics and packaging in the canteen
- Exploring further ways to reduce the school’s environmental footprint.
