At St Michael’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 school community is involved in a range of initiatives that empower students to support the ongoing care of creation through:
- Year 6 Student Environmental Team
- Stage 2 Garden Team
- 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, World Day of Prayer for the Care of Creation
- Outdoor learning spaces
- Vegetable, herb and/or fruit gardens
- A waste management system that includes recycling
- Worm farming, composting of organic waste
- Eco-friendly infrastructure –water tanks, sub-pods, LED lighting and sensor lighting
- A School Environment Management Plan (SEMP)
- Dedicated Staff Environmental Committee and Staff Environmental Coordinator (WEN contact)
- Staff professional development to support student and school environmental learning and action
- Physical ‘Acknowledgement of Country’ on school grounds
- Celebration of the ‘World Day of Prayer for the Care of Creation’ and the ‘Season of Creation’
- Earned Environmental Education Grants to further our environmental project
- Active membership to 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. The following is an overview of significant environmental actions and initiatives undertaken during our SEMP cycles.
- Encouraging staff ownership and responsibility in promoting and supporting the school’s ecological conversion journey.
- Documenting the incorporation of ecological themes in liturgy and prayer and acknowledging some key environmental days.
- Extending and streamlining a school-wide waste management system that is sustainable and part of everyday practice. (BLUE - Paper, RED - Landfill, GREEN - Food waste)
- Developing a whole school procedure outlining roles and responsibilities for the waste management / recycling system.
- Purchasing and installing subpods for organic waste composting
- Utilising the current prayer garden within the Quiet Area more effectively for student and teacher learning and prayer.
- Developing a whole school procedure outlining roles and responsibilities for the maintenance of the garden.
- Exploring ways to reduce the School environmental footprint - devising strategies to reduce the waste generated by the students and education around ecological conversion and sustainable actions for students, parents and teachers.
- Worm Farm. This is utilised across K – 6 with “Munch and Crunch”. Year 6 students manage this process.
- Year 6 Environment Group - involved in a range of eco activities.
- Underground water tank used for flushing of toilets.
- Automatic sensor lights in classrooms. Blinds installed to reduce the effects of the elements helping with heating and cooling.
- Newsletters, notes and messages are emailed or sent out via Schoolzine, COMPASS and Facebook.
- Use of technology - One to one iPads for Stage Three and Year 4.
