Loreto College Students Shed Light on Energy Consumption by Braving the Cold For World Environment Day
This World Environment Day (5th June), leading SA Girl’s College and one of Australia's most innovative schools will be brimming with beanies and blankets as the school raises awareness towards its ecological footprint with an electricity-free school day.
Loreto College Marryatville is set to make a bold — and cold — statement this World Environment Day (5th June) with their first-ever Beanies and Blankets Day. In recognition of this important awareness event, Loreto College's Junior and Senior Schools will unite and brace the winter weather by relinquishing the comforts of heat and lights for an entire school day, with the event to encourage students to actively engage in environmental issues and reflect on the College’s energy consumption and ecological footprint.
Hosted by Loreto College's Environment Committee, the initiative will highlight the importance of conscious energy consumption through an examination of the College’s energy usage. By only using the necessary power required for teaching, the school will explore the difference in energy consumption on Beanies and Blankets Day to a regular school day.
Measured via Loreto College’s energy consumption smart meters, this comparison will underscore the power habits and impact of energy consumption, fostering awareness and education for students on how their personal choices can make a difference. This event perfectly complements the College’s social justice theme of ‘Small Acts, Big Impacts’ presented by student leaders to the College at the start of 2023.
"We are shedding light on the effects of our school's energy consumption. This transparency with our girls will allow for meaningful reflection on our collective impact and inspire our community of teachers and girls to take ownership of environmental responsibility. Equipped with this knowledge, we can ignite a powerful wave of sustainable practices in our school and beyond," said Principal of Loreto College Marryatville, Dr Nicole Archard.
Beanies and Blankets Day is a testament to Loreto College’s commitment as a future-looking school and ambitious goals towards becoming a pioneering innovator of environmental sustainability in schools over a broad-ranging 10-year environmental plan. The College is on track to meet a goal of net zero carbon emissions by 2030, with several strategies across energy generation and consumption, waste management, and the local environment in place.
Key sustainability initiatives currently underway at Loreto College include:
- A transition to solar power across the College with this project expected to see 60% of all energy generated on-site by 2025.
- A plastic-free campus by 2023. The College’s four-stream waste segregation system, supported by a #cuttherubbish school-wide campaign, increased diversion from landfill by 105% in the first full year of operation.
- In 2022, the College invested in a major tree planting initiative of 200 trees along the banks of First Creek and other strategic areas on the campus to encourage native flora and fauna.
- Emphasis on the importance of curriculum development in this space, with the introduction of Environmental Science as a compulsory subject in Year 10 in 2022.
Loreto College’s trailblazing ethos in sustainability has earnt the College a position amongst the most innovative schools in Australia. Over the last year, the College has garnered accolades in The Educator's esteemed annual 5-star innovative schools report for 2022 and was honoured as a finalist in the Best School Strategic Plan category at the 2022 Australian Education Awards.
"Education is the foundation for shaping a sustainable future, and Loreto College is proud to be at the forefront as one of the innovative schools exemplifying action and education on sustainability. We strive to instil in our students a deep sense of resilience and responsibility towards the environment. By prioritising environmental education and integrating it into our curriculum, we are future generations of positive impact leaders," continued Dr Archard.
Each year, World Environment Day serves as a global platform to address environmental issues. This year’s international theme centres on sourcing solutions to plastic pollution, with the #BeatPlasticPollution campaign.
Loreto College students will be encouraged to leave behind their beanies and blankets on the day, with all collected goods to be donated to the St Vincent de Paul Society (SA), further encouraging the social justice initiatives of the College.
About Loreto College Marryatville
Loreto College Marryatville is South Australia’s leading all-girls day and boarding school, catering for students from Early Learning to Year 12.
Established in 1905, a Loreto education is built on a 400-year-old tradition first inspired by the founder of Loreto schools worldwide, Mary Ward, and encapsulates her beliefs in delivering an education which inspires strong, passionate, and confident girls and young women.
In delivering this view, Loreto College Marryatville provides girls with a well-rounded education where students are presented with a broad range of opportunities and given the support and encouragement to become confident and engaged learners with the knowledge and skills to make a difference to their world.