Last term our Year 3/4 class came up with a very worthwhile way of raising funds for Project Compassion by collecting recyclable bottles and cans for the 10 cent refund. Based on their initiative, the school (through the P&F) reached out to Containers for Change and became a collection point for the organisation.
The final donations for Project Compassion are still being tallied up and I look forward to reporting this back to you next newsletter, but that is not where the benefits of this student-driven project end.
This week, two Containers for Change bags will be sent home to each family for the collection of 10 cent containers. You are welcome to create your own account with the organisation (https://member.containersforchange.com.au/ or there is an app) and tag/label your filled bags to receive the refund directly by returning them to the school’s collection bin (on the GACC veranda near the playground). Alternatively, unlabelled bags can be donated to the school through our account.
Either way, there is no denying that this is a worthwhile financial incentive. However, there are other reasons why this program is important to St Joseph’s as a Catholic school community. The need for stewardship or care for our environment has never been greater. In 2015, Pope Francis published a public letter titled Laudato Si' – Care for Our Common Home. His message was that it is every person’s responsibility to reflect on their direct and indirect impact on the natural environment. As a Catholic community, we are called to question our choices and consider ways in which we can improve our use of natural resources to preserve God’s creation. The Containers for Change program is another way that we can have a positive influence on our own environmental practices, while also teaching our children how important sustainability practices are now and into the future.
When Ross from North Burnett Recyclers came and spoke with the Year 3/4 students last term, he reported that “120 000 containers are recycled weekly through their collection program, but this is only half of the containers sold in the North Burnett region on a weekly basis.” This adds up to a substantial amount of unnecessary landfill over time.
Thank you in advance for participating in this whole school initiative. When it comes to teaching our children, the old adage still applies that ‘actions speak louder than words’. This is an opportunity to model sustainable practices within your family.
