Santa winners – Speaking 4 The Planet Competition

On Friday 13 June, seven students from the Environment Committee represented Santa Sabina at the Inter-school Speaking 4 the Planet Competition held at Rosebank College. The competition has five categories. The theme for 2025 was Greenhouse Gasses = A Climate Calamity. This competition was run by Burwood Council, City of Canada Bay Council, Strathfield Council and Climate Action Burwood/Canada Bay (CABCB) to celebrate World Environment Day. The keynote speaker was Dr Karl Kruszelnicki AM.

The Year 11 students who attended were: Kira Sprotte, Gaby Indra, Charlotte So, Isabel Marturia, Michelle Indra, Emma Wong and Matilda Stephens. A huge congratulations to the following Santa Sabina students who achieved placings:

  • Kira Sprotte – First – Writing Competition
  • Matilda Stephens – Second – Speaking Competition
  • Michelle Indra – Third – Art Competition

Thank you to Richard Crittenden for coaching the students towards success.

Brigida Zagora
Head of HSIE (Humanities and Social Sciences)

Student Reflections

We travelled to Rosebank College, and were able to voice our ideas through speech, writing, art and recycled sculpture and discuss with peers the effects of climate change. Throughout the day we engaged in meaningful activities and conversations with the other schools that participated, collaborating on solving various questions. We also had the chance to listen to guest speaker Dr Karl Kruszelnicki and members of the local councils that sponsored this event. Attending the Speaking 4 the Planet inter-school competition was an amazing experience that allowed us to listen to engaging guest speakers, participate in different activities with other schools and compete in different areas of the competition.
Kira Sprotte
Year 11

As part of the 2025 Speaking 4 The Planet Competition, I submitted one of my favourite artworks called ‘Paint The Town Red’, which delves into the overwhelming severity of consumerism on the production of greenhouse gases. It was interesting to speak to other students and I was inspired by all their dedication and passion to save the world we live in today for a better tomorrow. Dr Karl spoke about the devastating impacts of the climate crisis, its causes and what action we can take to mitigate this devastation. One thing he said that stuck with me was, ‘Keep the fossil fuels in the ground!’. Overall, it was a wonderful experience that truly taught me a lot about the climate crisis and I am sure that this event ignited a hopeful flame inside all of us who attended.
Michelle Indra
Year 11