2022 | Issue 3 | Sustainability News

TERM 1 UPCOMING EVENTS

Every day CUT THE WRAP

Wednesday 9 March Service Learning (P5&6- Year 12 only)

Wednesday 16 March Enviroservice (3:30pm – 5:30pm)

Wednesday 23 March Enviroservice (P5&6- Year12 only)

Friday 25 March National Ride to School Day (including lunchtime Pedal Power Challenge)

Saturday 26 March Earth Hour 8:30pm-9:30pm (Global event)

Tuesday 29 March SJC “Switch Off” hour – Time TBC

CLEAN UP SCHOOLS DAY

The first 30 for 30 Challenge for 2022 was conducted on Friday 4 March in support of National School’s Clean Up Day. Year level teams battled it out to take the title, with the greatest mass of rubbish collected in their eating area over a 30 minute period. Collectively, students collected 19521g of rubbish and the Year 10 team took out the first challenge, with 6223g collected.

CLEAN UP AUSTRALIA DAY – SUNDAY 6 MARCH

On Sunday 6 March, volunteers across Australia joined forces to remove rubbish from public areas including; parks, waterways, roadsides etc. After a 12 month hiatus from this event due to COVID, St Joseph’s College volunteers were once again able to join the "Friends" of Waurn Ponds Creek to conduct a "Clean Up" of the Waurn Ponds Creek embankments, extending from the shopping centre to the baseball oval, swimming complex, skatepark and surrounding areas. The Clean Up day efforts form a small part of the broader project of the community group. Founded in 2002, the “Friends” of Waurn Ponds Creek, have been actively engaging in creating a nature corridor along the creek and maintaining the waterways in an effort to save the threatened and vulnerable endemic native Yarra Pigmy Perch. The community group gathers on a fortnightly basis and new volunteers are always welcome.

For more information, use the link below to view their website: https://www.friendsofwaurnpondscreek.org.au/index.htm

On Sunday 6 March, I participated in Clean Up Australia Day with Friends of Waurn Ponds Creek. It was great to see people braving the rain to help the community, environment and all the organisms that live in the area, especially the vulnerable and threatened Yarra Pigmy Perch that calls the Creek it's home. Through our actions, we managed to reduce plastic and rubbish pollution in the area, filling up half a skip bin of rubbish from a small section of the creek and clearing debris and trollies clogging the flow of water. I encourage everyone to lend a hand and help the environment by taking a couple of hours out of your day to assist groups in your area, such as Friends of Waurn Ponds Creek, or just a few seconds to pick up a piece of rubbish you see on the ground, either way, it makes a difference.

Ethan S (Year 12)

BARWON RIVER HEALTH REPORT

Over the past few weeks, Year 10 Environmental students have been undertaking an Ecology unit to learn about local ecosystems, local indigenous flora and fauna, and invasive species that impact the environment. As part of this unit, each class conducted a Macroinvertebrate study and Riparian Habitat Survey of the Barwon River at Queens Park. Blessed with superb weather, both classes were able to gain first-hand experience by examining the water quality and viewing the various organisms living within the vicinity.

"TAKE 3" FILMING COMPETITION

A reminder that the TAKE 3 Filming Challenge for 2022 is now running for all year levels. To enter, students simply film themselves “TAKING 3” somewhere in the community, conduct the “TAKE 3” salute and say “TAKE 3 for the Sea”. Entries should be submitted to Ms Kelly Jenkins at: [email protected] by the end of the day on Friday 1 April.

SUSTAINABILITY LEADERSHIP

New sustainability leaders have wasted no time, establishing new vegetable plots in the planters at the Paul Tobias Centre and revamping existing drinking stations and the planters are looking terrific!

To students wishing to participate and join the Sustainability Team, we are still seeking representatives from some Year 7 Homerooms and new members from other year levels are also welcome! Interested students are encouraged to complete the online application via the link below. The Term 1 Sustainability Meeting schedule is outlined in the student bulletin.

SUSTAINABILITY LEADERSHIP APPLICATION LINK:

https://www.sjc.vic.edu.au/future-families/learning-at-sjc/sustainability

Scheduled meetings will alternate between campuses. Further details pertaining to each Sustainability events will be published in the school bulletin.