Promoting ecological conversion and environmental sustainability
At St Thomas More, 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 Thomas More school community is involved in a range of initiatives that empower our students to support the ongoing care of creation through:
- Student Garden Club
- Curriculum integration of environmental awareness and sustainability
- Participation in environmental action and awareness initiatives – including Clean Up Australia Day, Earth Hour, Earth Day and World Environment Day
- Outdoor learning spaces
- Vegetable garden
- A waste management system that includes recycling
- Composting
- Worm farming
- Waste-free days
- Eco-friendly infrastructure – including solar panels, water tanks, LED lighting and sensor lighting
- Green ethical catering
- Dedicated 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’
- 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:
- Continuation of our weekly student Garden Club at lunch breaks
- Maintaining the self-watering wicking garden and making links to the curriculum
- Exploring further opportunities to reduce food waste
- Exploring ways to reduce the school’s ecological footprint
For more information, visit the CEDoW Wollongong Environment Network
