Promoting ecological conversion and environmental sustainability
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 St Michael's school community is involved in a range of initiatives that empower our students to support the ongoing care of creation through:
- Vegetable gardens
- Outdoor learning spaces
- Curriculum integration of environmental awareness and sustainability
- Participation in environmental action and awareness initiatives – including Clean Up Australia Day and World Environment Day
- A waste management system that includes recycling and composting of organic waste
- A staff environmental coordinator
- 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 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:
- Encouraging the whole school community’s ownership and responsibility in promoting and supporting the school’s ecological conversion journey
- Developing a vision and mission statement that gives reference to sustainability principles and ecological conversion
- Eco-theology and eco-spirituality formation for staff to continue to support the school's ecological conversion journey
- Engaging with the Laudato Si’ action platform – the seven-year journey towards addressing seven Laudato Si’ goals
- Implementing a 'waste-free' day each week across the school community
- Ensuring that learning and teaching programs reflect ecological themes and the learning across curriculum priority of sustainability
- Encouraging whole school involvement and ownership for environmental management and maintenance of the main gardens
- Reviewing energy usage and utilising more environmentally friendly options for catering and healthy eating
For more information, visit the CEDoW Wollongong Environment Network
