Comments from the Principal 12.11.21

Kia ora e te whanau

The world Climate Change Conference gathering in Scotland has just recently taken place. We are being challenged to face the urgent Ecological calls as our world is at a tipping point in terms of the catastrophic effects climate change is having on Mother Earth. It is hard to face this reality and easier for us to bury our heads in the sand and think I can’t make a difference all on my own. Our young people however have a much bigger sense of urgency than we do and know that small actions make all the difference. It is their future that is in jeopardy.

I was lucky to be able to go out to the Year 10 Borland Camp this week for a few hours with Year 10 Learning Tutor, Mrs Louise Grogan, and it was great to see our students, parents and staff communing with nature. Putting their devices, creature comforts and materialistic ideals to the side and just enjoying what our beautiful country has to offer. Opportunities like this can really make us see how important the care and preservation for places like this is.

Not all of us can go bush every week but what little steps can we take to fulfil Pope Francis calling in Laudato Si to care for God’s creation? We can take some time each day to take a contemplative walk outside in nature. All of us need this loving, reverential intimacy with nature to help in this environmental crisis we currently face. Such transformative, loving intimacy with God’s magnificent creation will deepen our care for our suffering Mother Earth. There are also practical ways we can preserve our environment. In the spirit of us all being urged to recycle – reuse – reduce – remind.

I take some time to gaze around my own room: what do I see that I no longer need or use, and I could give away to someone in need, recycle, or reuse in some other way? Around our house or shed or workshop etc there will be many other such unused items we could also suggest we do something about. Can we be more attentive to what we can reuse? For example, paper, plastic, bottles, cloth bags, How can we personally reduce the amount of water we use, especially hot water, our use of electricity, use of vehicles rather than public transport, the amount of money we spend, finding ways to reduce food wastage and reuse left-overs? Growing personal awareness of such practical actions may also encourage us to remind our community to work together more in taking such actions.


Charity fulfils the Law


Tara Quinney,
Principal