Students at St Joseph’s Catholic Primary School were busy spreading the environmental message by selling reusable mesh bags at Shalom Markets.
The calico bags were quickly purchased by community members seeking a handy and environmentally friendly way to take home their locally grown fruit and vegetables from the market.
School principal Kaye Beston said the Year Six leaders had worked hard to sell not only the reusable bags made from calico, but also marine-themed earrings that had been made and donated by a school officer.
Kaye said the idea behind the school’s market stall was to raise awareness of how everyone could help protect the local environment, especially The Great Barrier Reef and oceans.
“We are a Reef Guardian School and a certified Catholic Earthcare School,” Kaye said.
“Students decorated the calico bags with environmental messages and drawings.
“(They) threaded ribbons through the tops of the fruit/vegetable bags.”
Kaye said they school was proud of the Year 6 leaders and their response to the leadership role by attending Shalom Markets.
She said they admirably promoted St Joseph’s Catholic Primary School and the environmental message that was central to their status as Reef Guardian School and a certified Catholic Earthcare School.
The students received a wonderful response from community members after hearing about the school’s message.
“(There was) lots of interest from many different groups of people, (with a) special interest in reusable mesh fruit and vegetable bags,” Kaye said.
“Money raised will go towards plants and gardening items for our vegetable garden and also our planned butterfly garden project, which is designed to attract butterflies and other pollinators such as bees and insects to the area.”
Kaye said the St Joseph’s Catholic Primary School calico reusable shopping bags, marine themed earrings made and donated by a school officer, and the reusable mesh fruit and vegetable bags made by the school’s crossing supervisor Lee, and a teacher, would be available again later in the year.
