St Mary's Castlemaine Honoured for 5 Star Achievement

Home > News and Events > 2018 > St Mary's Castlemaine Honoured for 5 Star Achievement

6 August 2018

Images from , St Mary’s School, Castlemaine, during their celebration.On Monday, St Mary’s School, Castlemaine, held an official assembly to congratulate its students and school community for being one of 38 schools in Victoria who have achieved the highest rating of 5 Stars from the ResourceSmart Schools program at Sustainability Victoria.

 

Attending the celebration was local Member of Parliament, Maree Edwards; Mayor of Mount Alexander Shire Council, Michelle Barton; ResourceSmart Schools Facilitator; Cyrelle Field; Shelley Waldon, Catholic Education Melbourne; members of the parish and School Advisory Council; parents, students, teachers and friends

 

According to Sustainability Victoria, ‘Achieving 5 Stars is where schools embed sustainability in everything they do. Schools minimise waste, save energy and water, promote biodiversity and take action on climate change to benefit their school and community. Leadership is demonstrated in their school and community through mentoring, sharing stories, attending conferences, hosting teacher network meetings and engaging with other environmental groups’.

 

St Mary’s Principal, Bronwyn Phillips, said ‘as part of our Catholic school culture and commitment to sustainable living, our students, staff and community have worked together to embed sustainable practice across the curriculum. It was our aim to continue to give students the opportunity to learn about sustainability in a tangible and realistic environment.

 

‘The students have taken on the leadership of our sustainable practice where they are actively engaged in taking action to minimise waste, save energy and water, promote biodiversity and reduce greenhouse gas emissions’.

 

It is part of the St Mary’s vision and mission to promote and demonstrate respect for Earth, respect for people and respect for distribution through authentic experiences as a sustainable learning community.

 

Ms Philips adds, ‘Earth work intrigues and grounds our children. It supports wellbeing and in turn connects them with spirit’.

 

After an official assembly where the students were congratulated for their fine work by Maree Edwards, Bronwen Machin and other dignitaries the children enjoyed some outdoor, student-led games and a shared morning tea. The staff were also commended for their work.

 

The students at St Mary’s will receive some new gardening gear, a plant for their families and a fountain for their reflection garden to recognise this outstanding effort.

 

Good education plants seeds when we are young, and these continue to bear fruit throughout life (Laudato Si' para 213 Pope Francis).

 

For further information about St Mary’s sustainability journey you can visit www.smcastlemaine.com and read St Mary’s Sustainability story.