Our Sustainability Practices
As a College, we are committed to reducing our environmental impact and empowering individuals to become responsible for contributing to a sustainable future. This requires a multifaceted, whole College approach guided by a clear vision, targets and the engagement of staff, students and the community across all aspects of sustainability.
There are boundless opportunities for leadership in sustainability across the College:
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In the Primary School, the Student Voice and Green Team participate in many community events and create initiatives raising awareness across the school and into students' homes about the positive impact each of us can make on the environment. The Student Voice team won the 2018 prize for Waverley Council’s Green Sparks program for their inspiring initiative to reduce the amount of water wasted in the Primary School.
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In the High School, the Sustainability Committee is made up of students from Years 7-11. It is student-run and facilitated by a mentor who ensures the students are guided and supported in helping their ideas come to fruition with the greatest impact. Last year the committee was instrumental in achieving solar power at Moriah through their awareness-raising initiatives.
VEGETABLE PATCHES
The Primary School vegetable patch is managed and maintained by staff members and students who participate in the Garden Club. This has become a vital resource for the Primary School as they work to embed sustainability and outdoor learning into the curriculum. In the High School, the Learning Support Centre staff members and students maintain a vegetable patch in the Diversity Garden, a place where all students are welcome to work and form friendships. Students come together to plant, harvest, weed and maintain the garden, as well as enjoying craft activities, playing chess and sitting together by the peaceful pond and fountain.
REGULAR SUSTAINABILITY EVENTS
The College participates annually in Clean Up Australia Day, Earth Hour, National Plant a Tree Day, Enviroweek and National Recycling Week, all students are encouraged to participate both at school and in the community.
BIODIVERSITY
We are very lucky to have a Critically Endangered Eastern Suburbs Banksia Scrub on the College grounds which we are responsible for managing and regenerating. Key staff members work closely with the National Parks and Wildlife Service, Centennial Parklands, professional bush regenerators, and Waverley Council to ensure the best outcome for this invaluable habitat. Students are welcome to come and help on certain days and their contribution is considered community service and hours are allocated accordingly.
PLANTING
The College is committed to improving biodiversity across the campus. The planting plans ensure that only native plants are planted with a strong focus on providing habitat and creating wildlife corridors for native fauna. An additional benefit of planting natives is the reduced amount of water needed to maintain the grounds, a real positive for the environment and the College.
GRANTS
A number of sustainability grants have been received over time, the more recent acquisitions have been our new solar panels, two water refill stations enabling a reduction in the amount of single-use plastic bottles that are used, and a rainwater tank in the Primary School to water the vegetable patch and teach students the benefits of water catchment helping them to appreciate water as a critical resource.