Chalk drawings during Environment Week.
Environment Week 2026 brought students together through hands-on activities that showed how small actions can create meaningful change.
From the 11th to the 15th of May, Environment Leaders Emily P. and Mishti S., alongside the Student Earth Action Committee, ran five days of activities across the school as part of Catherine McAuley’s annual Environment Week. This commemorative week was tied together by one idea: taking care of the planet doesn’t have to be overwhelming - it can start right here, with us.
Monday kicked things off with a lunchtime micro-documentary, where Emily and Mishti roamed the school with microphones in hand alongside the student media team, asking students and teachers questions about the environment. It was candid, fun and honestly eye-opening, allowing us to hear the community’s genuine thoughts and opinions on environmental issues and the school’s overall environmental state. These interviews created a space for reflection and highlighted areas where improvement is needed. The finished documentary will be available on the school’s social media and Compass soon, so keep an eye out!
Student Environment Leaders Emily P. and Mishti S. at the Repurpose Pop Up Stall.
The Repurpose Pop-Up Stall.
Tuesday saw the Repurpose Pop-Up Stall come to Mercy Square, with the Earth Action Committee selling handmade items including crochet pouches, bookmarks, tote bags and more, all created by students. The purpose of the stall was to push back against mass production and show that sustainable alternatives can actually be really beautiful. Through the creation of these items, we promoted the idea of ‘slow fashion’, prioritising quality, sustainability and ethical manufacturing over rapid mass production.
Wednesday and Thursday saw chalk drawings appear on the BM Wall, also known as the Mercy Wall as the six Mercy values are permanently displayed on this wall, where students could grab some chalk and contribute to a growing environmental mural. It was one of those activities that brought the school community together to express thoughts and attitudes towards the planet, while celebrating an appreciation for the environment’s beauty through a medium that won’t harm the earth: chalk. By merging a space that commemorates mercy with the value of environmental stewardship, the community highlighted how, as a mercy school, we must remember our role as caretakers of the earth.
Students enjoying the chalk drawing activity.
Friday closed out the week with the EcoSwaps Thrift Store outside the Forum, a clothing swap that allowed students to trade items with one another. The thrift store is an activity the school has participated in for the past few years and has become a well-established Environment Week tradition. Students who donated items were able to select clothes of their choosing during the first half of lunch, and once the half bell rang, the rest of the school community was invited to participate and pick out items for themselves.
The goal of the thrift store was to emphasise the need to reduce demand for new clothing. The fashion industry accounts for roughly 10% of global carbon emissions, and by choosing second-hand clothing, our school community was able to take a small step towards reducing this impact. The turnout was great, we started with four tables piled high with clothing and ended with just six items remaining. The energy throughout lunch captured exactly what the week was all about.
What made Environment Week 2026 work wasn’t any one activity. It was the fact that every single day gave students a real and tangible way to engage with something that truly matters.
The EcoSwaps Thrift Store.
Emily P., Leader of Environment and Mishti S., Assistant Leader of Environment
Catherine McAuley Westmead
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From Facebook
ENVIRONMENT WEEK 🌿♻ Giving Clothes a Second Chance! Today at lunchtime, the McAuley Eco-swap brought sustainability to life in the fight against fashion, giving students the opportunity to swap unwanted clothing items with items from another person that they like using a token system. For every item donated, a token was given which could then be exchanged for a range of clothing items such as jumpers, shirts and pants. From re-using and re-loving to making more mindful choices, it was wonderful to see so many students supporting a more sustainable future. 🌏💚 A huge thank you to the Environment Leaders and Earth Action committee for working behind the scenes to drive this initiative as well as to everyone who donated and helped make this initiative such a success for Environment Week 2026. Together, small actions can create meaningful change.
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From Facebook
ENVIRONMENT WEEK 🌿 There was plenty of creativity and fun in Mercy Square at lunch today as students continued celebrating Environment Week at Catherine McAuley! Organised by the Student Leaders of Environment, students spent yesterday and today expressing their appreciation for the natural world through colourful chalk art on the Mercy Wall. Using non-toxic chalk, students transformed the space into a vibrant display of creativity, with lunchtime buzzing with activity.
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