Sustainability Education - Globally Aware
“Unless someone like you cares a whole awful lot, nothing is going to get better. It’s not.”
Long before saving the earth became a global concern, Dr. Seuss, speaking through his character the Lorax, warned against mindless progress and the danger it posed to the earth's natural beauty. Dr. Seuss’s beloved story teaches kids to treat the planet with kindness and stand up and speak up for others.
Expanding our Sustainability Education focus is one of Mosman Prep’s new Strategic Initiatives. We seek to help our boys understand that a healthy community is a serving community, where we find joy in living a life beyond ourselves. This means being an active contributor to both their school and the broader community.
A current sustainability focus of the Australian Government is acting on waste related to clothing textiles. Two key goals are to reduce the amount of clothing sent to landfill and to improve clothing design and production to increase longevity, re-use and recycling.
Recently in assembly, our Student Representative Council Leaders (Toby Armstrong and Harry Birch) spoke to the boys about ‘Lost Property’, and how sustainability is all about small changes that people can make to help look after the planet. Changes such as looking after your personal property, including ensuring every item is clearly labelled. As we move to a new lost property system (see below) the boys counted 93 lost property items, which added up to $4461.
At Mosman Prep, we believe that a person, with a sensible, healthy and responsible attitude to life, will be a valuable active contributor to both their school and the broader community to which they belong.
Our school value Respect reminds boys not only to value each other but also the world around them. We are growing our boys to be Globally Aware, to be caring, reflective and proactive, as they positively engage with challenges and connections that have local and global significance.
As mentioned previously in the Messenger, we are thrilled that several of our mums have used recycled school uniforms to create Mosman Prep specific bunting. This initiative is a powerful model for our boys, showcasing the incredible potential for upcycling within our school community, and raising awareness about responsible textile usage and sustainability as a whole. Excess stained and ripped uniforms are also being diverted from the landfill through our new ‘Recycle Smart’ business account (thanks to our P&F Committee).
By labelling school items with the help of your son and modelling the process of reimagining and repurposing unwanted clothing, we not only reduce waste but contribute to a cleaner, greener future, while assisting our boys to be more globally aware.
Peter Grimes | Headmaster
New Lost Property Procedure at Prep
Please be aware that Lost Property will be handled in the following way.
- Captains will sort lost property each Friday morning before School.
- Named lost property will be handed back to students at morning lines on Friday.
- Unnamed lost property will be held (in a separate crate in the undercroft) until the end of term and then delivered to the Uniform Shop for sorting.
- Captains will educate periodically in Assembly about students being responsible for their possessions.
- respecting themselves, their parents, their school, and the environment.
Thank you for assisting by ensuring all clothing and food/drink containers are clearly labelled.
