Caring for our Common Home Update
MS STEPHANIE VARDAS, SUSTAINABILITY COORDINATOR
This week, we join communities globally in celebrating Laudato Si’ Week, marking the anniversary of Pope Francis’ 2015 encyclical letter Laudato Si’. The letter calls us to recognise our planet as a gift from God and reminds us of our shared responsibility to care for it. As a Jesuit school, this connects directly to our commitment to Caring for Our Common Home, the fourth Universal Apostolic Preference, and challenges each of us to consider the everyday choices we can make to protect our common home.
Guest Speaker - Dr Gates Moss - Green Wolves & Yr12 Geography Presentation
On Wednesday, Dr Gates Moss, Partner and Associate Director of BCG, a global firm specialising in Climate Sustainability, spoke to our Green Wolves & Year 12 Geography cohort. Dr Moss presented on Perspectives on the Energy Transition. He shared insights on key perspectives regarding Australia’s 2035 decarbonisation pathway and addressed challenges and opportunities for Australia’s energy sector. Dr Moss pointed out that emissions from liquid fuels are now greater than those from coal-fired generation, and the need for our government to plan for increased access to renewable energy generation.
It was interesting to hear about the various approaches of governments around the world, including France, Brazil, Canada, the United Kingdom, Germany, and New Zealand, which have either transitioned towards predominantly nuclear, hydro, or hybrid power. It was great for our students to be informed about the latest developments. We are very grateful to Dr Moss for taking the time to present to our students.
Outdoor Living Libraries, by Mrs Sharon McLean
This week, we launched the second stage of the Outdoor Living Library Program.
Stage One - Developing the Cardoner Walk
This involved updating the Cardoner Walk and providing reflection card resources to accompany it. Pray Change walks have also been added, all of which are accessible through the Caring for Our Common Home Tab on InsideView. We are very pleased with the number of staff, students, and parents who have already participated in the Cardoner Walk.
Stage Two - Signage
Thanks to our Property Services Team, we have maintained a tree inventory. As a result, we have identified 1700 trees that are catalogued and checked annually by arborists for tree health. Twenty of those trees have been identified on the map and are in close proximity to the learning areas, providing easy access during lessons. Special thanks to Rob Aspey, our Gardens Team Leader, who created and installed a plate with the information about each of the 20 trees. Where possible, we have included the Indigenous name for the tree. The QR code on the signage provides a link to more detailed information. A special thanks also to Lisa Hooper from the Advancement Team for her fabulous graphic design work, to Alex Mai in IT for creating the QR Codes and updating the information in InsideView, and to Kaleb Taylor for his advice on the Indigenous history and names of each tree.
Why have we developed this program?
In keeping with our Teaching and Learning Framework, Stage 2 provides an opportunity to engage our students with the world by utilising our outdoor classroom, and we are all very much aware of the benefits of outdoor engagement. The more they connect with the environment, the more likely they are to have a vested interest and agency in looking after it. Being outdoors literally connects our students and us to our world. Being outdoors also provides wellbeing benefits. I encourage you to take a walk sometime and enjoy our beautiful environment. This Outdoor Living Library also lends itself to utilising the covered outdoor learning areas adjacent to the canteen and the seating around the gardens. All the information is housed in the Caring for our Common Home tile on InsideView HERE .
Prayer & Examen - Laudato Si’ Week
To further celebrate Laudato Si’ Week, our Year 11 Green Wolves led the College community in the morning prayer and examen. It was wonderful to see our students actively engaging in this important reflection, encouraging the community to pause, give thanks for creation and consider our shared responsibility to care for our common home. Through their leadership, the Green Wolves helped bring the message of Laudato Si’ to life and inspired others to reflect on how we can live more consciously and sustainably in our everyday actions.
Environment Data Dashboard
A key informant on the initiatives rolled out across our College has been the data dashboard. Here at Riverview, we have been collecting environmental data since 2022 and now use the 2023 data as our baseline year. We also use the 100% Renewables Environmental Tool, introduced to us by the Jesuit Province of Australia, which provides a Carbon Footprint reading. Three key contributors to our carbon footprint include electricity, air travel and waste to landfill . Please download a copy of our latest environmental data from the Caring for Our Common Home Tab on InsideView here .
