2024 | ISSUE 5 | Sustainability News

SUSTAINABILITY MATTERS

UPCOMING EVENTS TERM 2

Every day CUT THE WRAP

Wednesdays Service Learning: Making Bag Tags/Locker Tags/Buttons (Weeks 2-8)

Monday 22April Earth Day: Planting activity

Friday 26 April Making Pencil Cases for Kensekka

Friday 10 May Bird Species Count and Making Pencil Cases for Kensekka

Monday 13 May Planting workshop for Mother’s Day

Tuesday 21 May Enviroservice (3:30pm – 5:30pm): Tree Planting (TBC)

Thursday 23 May Habitat Assessment

Friday 24 May Making Pencil Cases for Kensekka

Wednesday 5 June World Environment Day - Enviroservice (3:30pm – 5:30pm): Tree Planting

Friday 14 June Making Pencil Cases for Kensekka

CUT THE WRAP

All families are encouraged to support our “CUT THE WRAP” initiative by adopting a "plastic wrap free" approach to making lunches every day, in a bid to help reduce waste in our school grounds. We would like to thank all families that have already adopted the “CUT THE WRAP” approach to making lunches to date and we strongly encourage new families to send their sons to school with a “plastic wrap free” lunch and a re-useable water bottle.

ENVIROSERVICE

On Thursday 7 March, Enviroservice was conducted at the Carey Oval embankments, Edmund Rice Campus. Volunteers worked tirelessly to spread mulch around the pavilion located in the south east corner, providing protection, water retention and nutrients for the indigenous shrubs trees and grasses planted in the vicinity over recent years. Species growing in this area include Golden wattle (Acacia pycnantha), Sticky Hop bush (Dodonaea viscosa), Kangaroo Grass (Themeda triandra) and Tussock grass (Poa Labillardierei).

SWITCH OFF HOUR

On Friday 22 March, St Joseph’s College engaged in a “Switch Off” hour, ahead of Earth Hour scheduled on Saturday 23 March. During this time, all members of our community were encouraged to switch off power not deemed necessary to conduct their lesson safely. Utilising our Mondopower “Ubi” energy production and consumption capture software, collectively across both campuses the average energy consumption (compared to averaged generation for each Friday prior for Term 1) was reduced by 262.20kWh; a saving of $109.60 for the hour. This equivalates to the following savings; $575.4 per day, $2877 per week, or $115,080 per year (Based on 6hr and 15 minute of class time Fridays, 5 days a week and 40 school weeks per year). The data captured on the day will provide valuable baseline data for the implementation of future energy reduction strategies.

COMMUNITY NOTICES

SEEKING DONATIONS OF MATERIAL TO MAKE PENCIL CASES FOR STUDENTS IN KENSEKKA, UGANDA
In preparation for staff visiting St Joseph’s School in Kensekka, Uganda in June, we are currently seeking donations of material to commence making A4 sized pencil cases for students. The first meeting is scheduled for Friday 26 April. We would greatly appreciate donations of suitable materials, in particular, durable and/or waterproof fabrics and buttons. Please send donations to the Reception at either campus by Wednesday 24 April. If you would be interested in assisting with sewing, please indicate your interest by emailing; [email protected]

NORTH SHORE BEACH CLEAN UP – SATURDAY 27 APRIL - SERVICE LEARNING OPPORTUNITY
The 3220 Beach Patrol Geelong group have scheduled a 2 hour beach “Clean-up”, commencing at 9am on Saturday 27 April at Moorpanyal, Beach, North Shore.

The event will include one a 1 hour clean up followed by 30 minutes sorting time for participants to learn how the items are sorted. All participants will be provided with gloves, bags and grabbers and are asked to bring a water bottle and wear suitable clothing and a sun hat.

For more information visit the 3220 Beach Patrol Group on Facebook.

To sign up to this event, use the following link; https://events.humanitix.com/b...

Kelly Jenkins
Sustainability Coordinator