Reflections

​The terms biodegradable, compostable and degradable all create the impression that they offer better environmental outcomes to conventional plastics and that they disappear harmlessly into the environment, right?  

No, this is not the case. 

As the world moves to ban single-use plastics, biodegradable plastics are increasingly in focus as an environmentally friendly alternative. However, some plastics degrade into microplastics, others take a very long time to disappear from the environment, and in certain conditions they produce powerful greenhouse gases.

As a committed sustainability practitioner, I will always promote plant-based eating most of the time for its lower environmental impact. However, I am also a realist and understand the diversity of food people may select. 

In continuing our waste reduction theme in Term 1, I refer to the great book which was the focus of last week's Green Tip. 

The family in A Family Guide to Waste Free Living  use one roast chicken to serve five people over three meals with zero waste.

During Term 1 at Merici we focus on reducing waste and hope that this translates into action here at school, at home and wherever you may go.

I was recently introduced to a lovely and inspiring book, A Family Guide to Waste-Free Living, which can assist us all to do better with reducing our waste. It is about a family of five living near Hobart who have produced no waste or recycling since 2015. They remind us that even through recycling, we are using energy and resources. 

Costa Georgiadis provides the foreword and states that:

To garden is to care deeply, inclusively, and audaciously for the world outside our homes and our heads. It’s a way of being that’s intimately interwoven with the real truths of existence – not the things we’re told to value (money, status, ownership), but the things that actually matter ( sustenance, perspective, beauty, connection, growth). To be a gardener is to be invested in a place – to know it, to protect it and to be present. Georgina Reid, The Planthunter

2020 has been a year of consolidation for Inclusive Education at Merici College. With the increase of professionals to our team we have seen The Hub, our central location, become a consistent hive of activity for students from across all year groups needing additional support. This space houses many varying aspects of improving learning for students.

There have been many changes this year in Creative and Performing Arts. This year we had three new staff join the team, Mrs. Nicola Bartasek as the Music Teacher, Ms. Carly Johnson as the Drama Teacher and Ms. Justine MacCormick as a Visual Arts, Photography teacher and as the Coordinator. Mrs. Laura Pearce continued teaching Dance, Mrs. Liz Igoe-Taylor Visual Arts and Mr. Matthew Reynolds Media.

What a year we have had, one like no other! In response to the challenges that arose in our community due to the COVID-19 pandemic, teachers rallied together and developed interesting and engaging activities which were delivered remotely during the lockdown period. Their professional approach to caring for the students was impressive. The Global Studies Department includes the subjects of Legal Studies, Business Studies, Graphic Design, Senior Ancient and Modern History, Geography, History, Civics and Citizenship, Business and Economics, Integrated Humanities, Food Technology and Textiles.

Being an English teacher at Merici College is fantastic because we see the passion and empathy of our students as they explore great literature and other forms of communication.

And we thought 2019 was a year of change! Just as things were settling in towards the end of Term 1, remote learning was upon us. Rather than seeing this as a huge imposition, the Religious Education staff jumped in to the challenge and managed to engage the students with some new ways of doing things – many of which have remained as we returned to the “new normal” once back at school. The variety of new software being used in classes is amazing!