Inspiring Change: Earth Day 2024
Earth Day is one of the largest civic events on Earth. All over the world, people are inspired to take action to safeguard our planet and protect it for future generations.
Earth Day at Santa Maria College
At Santa Maria College, we came together to celebrate Earth Day on Thursday 18 April. The official day is on Monday 22 April. We started the day in darkness by turning off the lights in Period 1.
Led by our dedicated Eco-Justice Captain for 2024, Arlena Garces (Year 12), and the Eco Sisters, the Earth Day Assembly was a powerful reminder of our collective responsibility to protect our planet for future generations.
Free Dress with an Earth Day Theme
In the spirit of unity and solidarity with our planet, students and staff were also encouraged to wear earthy colours such as greens, blues, and browns, adding a visual representation of our collective commitment to environmental stewardship to the Earth Day Assembly.
Guest Speaker: Emma Charlton
One of the highlights of the assembly was the presence of guest speaker Emma Charlton, who is a true champion of environmental sustainability. Emma’s passion and commitment to making a difference for the planet shone through as she shared her journey of setting up and coordinating ‘Bottle Top Hill,’ a remarkable community recycling and education hub. What started as a simple collection point for plastic bottle tops has blossomed into a beacon of environmental action and has earned Emma numerous awards, including the prestigious 2023 United Nations Association of Australia, WA division, United Nations Day Environment Action Award.
Bin Reminder
The Eco Sisters also played a vital role in the assembly, reminding students of the importance of proper waste disposal. With clear guidance on our bin system – white bins for empty drink containers and green-lidded bins for food waste – the message was loud and clear: every small action counts in the fight against waste and pollution.
Planet vs Plastic
With the 2024 theme of Planet vs Plastic, Lianne Kim challenged students and staff to embrace a plastic-free lunch. Lianne shared practical tips on how to make this transition seamlessly. From opting for bulk snacks stored in reusable containers to ditching single-use plastic wrap in favour of eco-friendly alternatives like beeswax wraps, the message was one of empowerment. By making simple changes to our daily routines, we can significantly reduce our environmental footprint and lead by example in our community.
Taking Action
The Earth Day also provided an opportunity for action with a pop-up stall offering beeswax wraps for purchase or to order. Additionally, students will have the chance to participate in wax wrap workshops later in the term, empowering them to create their own sustainable alternatives to single-use plastics.
The assembly didn’t just end with words – it inspired action. In the final moments, students took to the College grounds to ‘Clean Up the College’ demonstrating our collective dedication to preserving the beauty of our environment.
Remember…
As we reflect on the Earth Day Assembly of 2024, let it serve as a reminder that each of us has the power to make a difference.
Remember, it is up to us all to:
- Become better informed about plastics
- Become a recycling expert
- Sort our waste – make it a resource, not a waste
- Reduce our single-use plastic – make our lunchbox plastic free
- Make the change, and help others make the change too.
 Together, we can create lasting change for our planet and for generations to come.
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Author: Santa Maria College
Santa Maria College is a vibrant girls school with a growing local presence and reputation. Our Mission is to educate young Mercy women who act with courage and compassion to enrich our world. Santa Maria College is located in Attadale in Western Australia, 16 km from the Perth CBD. We offer a Catholic education for girls in Years 5 – 12 and have 1300 students, including 152 boarders.
