Throughout Term 1, Green Team meetings sparked conversations about the community’s most relevant sustainability issues, and our aims for greater community engagement in Green Team events.
This Term, Green Team members have been eagerly preparing for Earth Week, which will be held in Week 3, from Monday 29 April – Friday 3 May. Earth Week will consist of multiple activities, such as a bake sale, daily quizzes and a screening session of short yet powerful environmentally-themed films. The aim of this lunchtime screening is to extend active and thought-provoking discussion to other Middle School and Senior College students, by spending time to engage with and talk about the ideas raised in the films.
Green Team members voted for an organisation or campaign to support with the funds raised from the Bake Sale. From a multifarious range of necessary and equally important options, we have chosen to raise funds for Farmers for Climate Action. This is an Australian non-profit organisation which represents and supports over 8000 farmers across the country, by equipping them with the tools required to be leaders of climate action and championing the interests and voices of their communities.
Based on the theme of Earth Day 2024, ‘Planet vs Plastics’, the Green Team are organising a writing competition in collaboration with the Pegasus Committee. This will urge students to explore this topic more deeply and align with the Green Team’s theme for Term 1 – waste. Waste management continues to be a significant topic in our meetings. Commencing in Earth Week, we are aiming to trial recycling stations in the Middle School and Senior College, allowing students and staff to easily deposit items such as batteries, plastic bottles, bread tags, and used pens and markers at School. These can then be periodically taken to larger collection points, such as those at Officeworks, preventing these items from going into landfill.
One of our broad goals for 2024 is to create positive and visible change within the community. Tackling waste disposal will be a key focus after Earth Week, with the hope of seeing visible changes in our immediate spaces. This includes seeing less rubbish in locker areas or in our beautiful grounds. In many ways, the respect demonstrated for our spaces reflects our ability to care for the planet.
Following the success of the clothing swap and clothing drive at the end of 2023, we are keen to hold a book swap later in the year, which will also include textbooks, and can appeal to students of all ages.
We are all looking forward to Earth Week and excited to see what we can achieve as a team this year. We are so grateful for the continued support of the Green Team. We hope that we can share positive news about our progress as the year goes on!
Anika Mulemane | Student Leader – Green Team
