Celebrating Laudato Si’
Schools
Junk play, mud play, an irrigation challenge and frog rescue were some of the activities enjoyed by students at St Pius X School to celebrate Laudato Si Week.
Organised by the Windsor Gardens school’s environment committee, the two-day extravaganza included different outdoor activities as well as an assembly and liturgy focusing on Pope Francis’ encyclical Laudato Si’ and ‘caring for our common home’.
One of the popular exercises was ‘junk play’ in which students became creative by making things from donated items such as old tyres, barrels and tarpaulins. While having fun outside, the exercise served to reinforce the message of re-using and re-purposing items.
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‘Mud play’ was another hands-on activity while the irrigation challenge invited students to throw cups of water into a bucket – without wasting any – symbolising the importance of irrigation for farmers to grow their crops.
To highlight the need to cut out plastic waste, students were asked to bring ‘nude food’ – minus any wrapping – for their recess and lunch, and not to request lunch orders where possible.
An art competition provided another opportunity for students to get creative with entries focusing on the theme, This Land is Me.
Principal Ashley Keane applauded the efforts of the environment committee which facilitated the program with the support of all staff, but particularly teacher Jane Buhagiar.
Formed last year, the group comprises seven committed Year 6 students who meet at least twice a week in their lunchtime and recess to discuss environmental issues and how they can bring them to the attention of their peers.
“When members of the committee asked if they could run the program they said a driver was being able to promote an appreciation of the environment that we may have lost through using technology,” Mr Keane said.
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Committee member Levi added that Laudato Si Week, which ran from May 21-28, provided the perfect platform for some students to rediscover nature.
“We’ve noticed in today’s day and age people are becoming more anti-social and would rather be on technology, like video games, instead of going outside and seeing the nature around them,” he said.
“The week helped us to be creative outside and talk about caring for our common home.”
The Archdiocesan Council for Integral Ecology also celebrated the week with an event at the Marine Discovery Centre on May 28. Billed as an afternoon of ‘underwater adventure and global concern’, it featured guest speaker Dr Sue Murray-Jones.
To view the video go to theletterfilm.org/watch/