Promoting ecological conversion and environmental sustainability

At Holy Family, 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 Holy Family school community is involved in a range of initiatives that empower our students to support the ongoing care of creation through:

• Student Ecology leadership team
• Curriculum integration of environmental awareness and sustainability
• Participation in environmental action and awareness initiatives (‘Green Days’) – over the years this has included Clean Up Australia Day, Earth Hour, Earth Day, World Environment Day, Tree Day and/or National Recycling Week
• Outdoor learning spaces
• Eco-friendly water bottle refill tap
• Dedicated environmental coordinator (WEN contact)
• 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 our whole school community’s ownership and responsibility in promoting and supporting the school’s ecological conversion journey
• Whole school engagement with the Laudato Si’ Action Platform, the seven-year journey towards addressing seven Laudato Si’ Goals
   

For more information, visit the CEDoW Wollongong Environment Network