Laudato Si Week 2025

This year marks the 10th anniversary of Pope Francis’ important letter Laudato Si’, which reminds us all of our responsibility to care for the Earth, our common home. To recognise this milestone, our school community took part in Laudato Si’ Week 2025 with a focus on ecological spirituality. This means not just doing things to help the environment but thinking about why we do them, and understanding the deeper reasons behind living sustainably.

We began the week with a SEALS (Student Environmental Action Leaders) assembly on Monday morning. During the assembly, we spoke to the whole school about the message of Laudato Si’, and the importance of reflecting on our actions and how they connect to our values. We also talked about how we can do better in caring for our environment. As part of the assembly, we showed pictures of the litter that had been found around the school. Many students were shocked to see how much waste is being left behind. We also watched a short video that showed how litter from our school could end up at Mentone Beach, which is so close to us. It helped us understand how our actions here can affect marine life and the world around us.

Throughout the week, we ran several activities to keep everyone engaged and thinking about sustainability. These included the Great Litter Race, where students competed to sort waste into the correct bins, helping everyone learn how to dispose of rubbish properly. We also held a Movie and Crafts Day, where students watched Finding Nemo and then joined a creative workshop. In the workshop, students learned how to make tote bags out of old t-shirts and turned used plastic bottles into jellyfish.

Thank you to all the SEAL leaders who worked so hard to plan and run these events, and to every student who came along and got involved. Your support makes a big difference, and we really hope to see even more participation in the future. The main thing we want is for everyone to start being more aware of the waste they produce, both at school and at home. Small changes in our habits can lead to a big positive impact on our world. Let’s keep working together to take better care of our environment.

Emily Aherne and Sarah Avitabile

Teachers: Sustainability Leaders