About Environmental Issues

Environmental matters of all kinds are overseen by the school's Environmental Management Committee (EMC) which currently consists of teachers, SASS staff and parents, with the students in close contact through the SRC. This committee meets regularly to discuss environmental issues and plan for action. Our part of the three year school strategic plan is in two sections, Sustainability and Education.

Sustainability

• We take part in a number of public events during the year. These include Earth Hour, Schools Tree Day and Clean Up Australia Day. These events have the dual purpose of doing something to help our environment and raising awareness among our students and staff and the whole school community.
• We are looking at various ways of reducing the environmental footprint of the school.
  A reduction in Water use is already underway with the installation of two 45 000 litre tanks which can be used to irrigate the sports field. Energy use is a big issue for schools, particularly when it comes from electricity generated from coal fired power stations. We will be applying for a grant under the National Solar Schools program for the installation of solar power units. This should be completed in 2009. Recycling is already underway, with paper being recycled in all staffrooms and the office. However, we plan to do more in this area. We would like to cut down on our use of paper in printing and will look at ways of doing this without reducing our delivery of curriculum for our students. We have joined the Mobile Muster program and have a box in our office where staff and students can dump old mobile phones. These are collected and most components can be recycled.
• We are planning for some improvements to our grounds so that they are more sustainable. Planting of local natives will be part of this plan as well as putting mulch and native ground covers on some areas which are currently grassed. Our SRC is planning to be practically involved in some of these projects.

Education

• A very important aspect of environmental education is awareness raising. This is mainly achieved through our involvement in public events as mentioned above. The purpose is that the whole school community becomes aware of ways of how to change to more sustainable practices.
• Addressing environmental education in the curriculum is also a priority. During 2009 all faculties will be looking at how environmental issues are addressed in their teaching programs. Then work will be done to find creative and meaningful ways of introducing environmental aspects into their programs.