Students at Star of the Sea Primary School in Cleveland, near Wellington Point, are learning climate literacy through classroom lessons, Catholic teaching and practical sustainability activities that connect environmental care with everyday choices.
Cleveland School Puts Climate Literacy Into Daily Learning
Climate literacy is becoming a more familiar part of contemporary education, and at Star of the Sea Primary School in Cleveland, it is being taught through both classroom learning and practical action.
The Brisbane Catholic Education school is using climate literacy to help students understand the environment, the impact of human actions, sustainability and their responsibility to care for the world around them. The learning is also shaped by Catholic Social Teaching and Laudato Si’, which encourages care for the common home.
At Star of the Sea, climate literacy begins from the early years of schooling. Students are introduced to the idea that the world is part of creation and that caring for it is connected to their responsibilities as people of faith.
As students grow, the learning builds into a wider understanding of ecosystems, environmental responsibility and the role of daily choices. The approach is designed to develop knowledge as well as a sense of stewardship, linking classroom lessons with habits that students can practise at school and in the wider community.
EcoWarriors Lead Hands-on Sustainability at Star of the Sea
The school’s EcoWarriors team gives students a practical way to apply what they are learning. The group includes students from Years 3 to 6 who meet each week and take part in sustainability activities around the school.
Their work includes supporting Containers for Change, collecting and recycling paper and cardboard, and helping ensure waste, including food wrappers, is placed in the correct bins. These routines give students direct experience in caring for their school environment and building more responsible habits.
The EcoWarriors program also involves school families in environmental initiatives that support local wildlife. This extends the learning beyond individual classrooms and shows how small, regular actions can contribute to environmental care.
Students Learn Through Design and Problem Solving
Climate literacy at the Cleveland school is also strengthened through hands-on learning. One example is the school’s Design a Bee Hotel competition for World Bee Day, which gives students a practical way to connect environmental learning with design, collaboration and creativity.
These activities allow students to test ideas, work with peers and understand how local actions can support the environment. The school’s broader learning approach supports this style of teaching, with a focus on contemporary learning, explicit teaching, feedback and flexible learning environments.
Star of the Sea Primary School also uses the Australian Curriculum and Brisbane Religious Curriculum to guide learning choices for students.
BCE Climate Learning Connects Knowledge With Action
The Cleveland example reflects wider learning across Brisbane Catholic Education, including initiatives such as the STEM Make a Difference competition. Through the competition, students are encouraged to identify real-world problems and develop their own solutions, including ideas connected to sustainability, conservation and climate action.
This approach combines STEM knowledge with ethical decision-making and creativity, giving students opportunities to think about environmental challenges in practical ways.
During Laudato Si’ Week from 17 to 24 May, the focus on climate literacy also highlights the link between learning, responsibility and action. At Star of the Sea Primary School, that link is reflected in growing student interest in environmental activities.
The school has recorded almost 50 per cent more interest in the EcoWarriors program this year compared with last year. The increase points to stronger student engagement in practical sustainability work and a growing willingness to take part in caring for the school environment.
Catholic education has been part of the Redland region for more than four decades, and at Star of the Sea Primary School in Cleveland, climate literacy is being taught as part of a broader approach to learning, faith and community responsibility.
Published 26-May-2026
Photo Credit: Supplied
