Laudato Si Eco Team

What is Laudato Si?

Pope Francis has written a letter addressed to every person on this planet, asking us all to protect our common home, the earth. In his encyclical, Laudato Si’, Pope Francis speaks openly about the devastating effects of climate change on people and the planet. He says that climate change is real, urgent and it must be tackled, asking us to remember that the climate is “a common good, belonging to all and meant for all”.

Will you play your part to protect our common home?

Meet our Eco Team

Laudato Si’ is at the very heart of our Mission as an Eco Team here at St William of York.

Our Eco Team Leaders for 2024-2025 are:

Y3- Eliza and Teddy

Y4- Violet and Gracie

Y5- Esther and Rayhan

Y6- Andrew and Temiluwa

The team is coordinated by Mrs Coyle (Deputy Headteacher)

This year, our Eco Team Members will make a difference by:

• Promoting our Laudato Si’ mission, inspired by the work of Pope Francis and Bishop John.
• Attending and contributing to regular Eco Team meetings and then feeding back to our classes regarding issues we have discussed.
• Taking a lead in some assemblies, including sharing important messages to encourage the whole school community to ‘Live Simply’ and look after God’s Creation.
• Monitoring our school’s energy usage, waste and recycling.
• Holding competitions and campaigns.
• Liaising with School Staff and other pupil groups such as the GIFT Team, Caritas Ambassadors and School Council.
• Leading the Laudato Si’ Litter Heroes – joining litter picks and monitoring litter around school.

The CAFOD ‘Live Simply’ Project

We are proud this year, to be working as a school community, led by Our Laudato Si’ Eco Team and GIFT team, towards achieving the CAFOD Live Simply Award.

The Live Simply Award is an opportunity for Catholic communities – parishes, schools, religious orders and chaplaincies – to respond to Pope Francis’ invitation in Laudato Si’ to “work with generosity and tenderness in protecting this world which God has entrusted to us”.

We hope to gain this award in recognition of our commitment to living simply, sustainably and in solidarity with the poorest communities.

As part of Living Simply, our school aims to impact our global family, our local community and our school community as we reflect the teachings of Laudato Si’ and Catholic Social Teaching along our journey.

Our ‘Live Simply’ Prayer

This Autumn, we created our very own Live Simply Prayer. Our prayer is displayed in every classroom and is prayed regularly by the children in order to praise God for his wonderful Creation and to remind us of our duty to care for the Earth as Stewards of God’s Creation.