Environment at St Catherine’s
St Catherine’s is leading the way in Australian schools in its environmental program, initiatives and policies. For several years, the School has had its own staff Environment Coordinator and member Committee, who work to achieve the School’s Environmental Vision:
‘For St Catherine’s to become a leader and role model by adopting a whole School approach to issues pertaining to sustainability, which will be achieved by integrated curricula, environmental policies and infrastructure that support the ethos of the School.’
St Catherine’s School’s dedicated Environment Committee is made up of students, staff, parents and members of the School leadership team. The Committee aims to integrate environmental behavioural practices through School curricula, infrastructure and policy, educate the wider community through events and communications (for example, St Catherine’s News), set specific targets for waste reduction, water and energy consumption, increase biodiversity on the School campus and to build a student-driven environmental program.
What do we currently do?
- Raise awareness of environmental issues through student assemblies and activities (for example, World Environment Day)
- Recycling throughout the School (paper, containers, waste)
- Student Environment Club (meets regularly to organise environmental activities and action)
- Student leadership opportunities (student Environment Captains in the Junior and Senior Schools organise environmental events across the School)
- Environmental topics studied in the curricula
- Creation of the new Indigenous Garden at the front of 23 Heyington Place which will increase the biodiversity of the School.
What initiatives are we involved in?
- Australian Sustainable Schools Program - St Catherine’s School was recently evaluated for its water component as part of the Program and has now completed the necessary requirements to be awarded with the water star, making St Catherine’s School a Three Star Sustainable School. The next component which the School is working to achieve is Biodiversity.
- Schools Tree Planting Day - July (planting indigenous vegetation in the local area)
- Schools Clean Up Day – February (Clean up Australia Day initiative in schools)
- Tree Planting activities – students have planted over 2000 native plants along the Yarra Boulevard
- Indigenous Garden – students created the School’s own Indigenous Garden filling it with native plants
- St Catherine’s School has pioneered a new interschool Environment Forum aimed at giving students and staff from several Melbourne schools the opportunity to share sustainable ideas and discuss ways to reduce each school’s environmental footprint
What grants have we received?
Melbourne Water grant of $25,000 to install a Rainwater Garden
Federal Community Water Grant (Round 3 - $50,000) to reduce water consumption within the School
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