Ecofest

Congratulations to our Year 5 & 6 students who have organised another fantastic Ecofest this year. All year level cohorts contributed their own stalls to showcase what they have been learning in their eProjects this year. We had special stalls from local organisations and companies also keen to showcase their sustainability practices. Big thanks to Ergon Energy, Townsville City Council, Landcare Australia, Sea Shepherd, City Libraries, Wulgurukaba Walkabouts, Tangaroa Blue, St Vincent dePaul

Athletics Carnival

We have finished the term off in good spirits with a very relaxed Athletics Carnival this morning. I was so impressed with the good nature of all the kids.I was particularly pleased with their fantastic have a go attitudes and their encouragement of others. Dulgan were our winners on the day. Big thanks to Mr Christie and Mrs Stevie-Lee Rowe for all your planning and organisation. Thank you too to Mr Apap for always providing assistance when needed.

Solar Power 

Please read this media release from Townsville Catholic Education that highlights a project a school will be a part of. We expect this next stage of solar power to be installed before school starts in 2021.

TOWNSVILLE Catholic Education has signed up for a Tesla battery storage project on the way to having its schools powered 100 per cent from renewable sources.

The agency recently accepted a tender from Queensland-based commercial solar business GEM Energy to deliver the project over the next 10 years.

TCE executive director Jacqui Francis said this was a third stage of works committed by TCE to introduce renewable energies into schools.

“The first two stages saw up to 100kW of solar panels installed at schools across the Townsville diocese,” Ms Francis said.

“Stage three is a significant increase in solar panels installed on school roofs combined with the Townsville diocese’s first large-scale investment in battery storage.”

This reflects a strong commitment to responding in practical ways to the call of Pope Francis in his 2015 encyclical Laudato Si’ (On Care for Our Common Home).

The announcement of TCE’s new energy project comes at a time when the Church is celebrating a Special Anniversary Year of Laudato Si’.

“In practical terms this project will result in a large-scale reduction of energy bills via the generation of a significant portion of school energy needs from onsite renewable sources,” Ms Francis said.

“The project will see a significant reduction in grid-sourced energy, reducing TCE’s reliance on non-renewable sources.

“TCE is also investigating purchasing grid-sourced energy from renewable sources, meaning the energy needs of Townsville Catholic diocesan schools are sourced 100 per cent from renewable sources.”

Apart from the environmental benefits, Ms Francis said “the long-term advantages of the project will benefit the schools in terms of reduced electricity costs and the ability to reinvest this money into other school-based resources”.

TCE director of Learning and Teaching Peter Stower said the rolling out of the solar energy projects had “allowed for the inclusion of practical real-life examples of renewable energy generation to be included in students’ curriculum”.

“Students in schools are learning about our collective responsibility to care for our Earth and, through the sustainable solar projects, that the decisions we make today will have an impact on the future,” Mr Stower said.

It was an awareness that flowed into other areas.

“The call to conversion from Laudato Si’ is reaching the hearts of the students in our schools across the diocese,” Mr Stower said.

“Students are initiating projects, with the support of their teachers, to engage the whole school community to come together to make a difference.

“Projects such as recycling paper and cardboard, ink cartridges and old mobile phones, planting trees around the school, and reducing waste from school lunches have been some of these projects being led by students.

“Our students learn through these daily practices that it is the simple daily gestures that can make a difference and everyone has an important role to play in caring for creation.”

End of term

Finally I would like to congratulate our staff again with what has been another very challenging term. I am ever so grateful for the wonderful team of caring and professional staff we have at St Benny’s and I would like to acknowledge the tremendous effort people have put in to support families and children through some very difficult times. We have also had many opportunities to celebrate joy and success with our students this term with so many children reaching fantastic milestones and making progress in their learning.

All the best for a safe, relaxing and enjoyable break. See you all back on Tuesday 6 October.

Cheers

Penny Collins

Principal