Sustainability Club News - Sock Animal Toy Project

Thursday, 6th February 2025

Pupils in Years 8 and 9 have been taking part in a sock animal toy project as part of the Sustainability and Upcycling Co-curricular Club on Friday afternoons this half-term, led by Mrs Wiseman. Building on last term’s work, where students created Christmas decorations from upcycled materials, this term they have had the opportunity to make sock animal toys for younger children.

Rather than discarding old socks, pupils learned how these can be transformed into the perfect base for a toy. After a good wash, the socks become the ideal starting point, with the addition of buttons, patches, ribbons, and recycled stuffing materials. A key focus of the project was ensuring that the finished sock toys were child-safe, with all decorations being securely sewn on to avoid any potential hazards.

Jhanvi in Year 9 writes: "Mrs Wiseman’s Sustainability and Upcycling Club is so much fun because I get to learn how to reuse some of my old or unwanted items and make them into something beautiful, like the sock toys we are making right now. This club is really nice and relaxing after a long week - I get to do something I love in a calm environment, and I have made some really nice friends too."

Sustainability and recycling are important in Catholic schools for many reasons, all of which are deeply connected to Catholic Social Teaching (CST).  CST teaches us that humans are stewards of God's creation, responsible for caring for and protecting the environment. Recycling and sustainability are practical ways to fulfill this responsibility. In his encyclical Laudato Si', Pope Francis emphasizes that the Earth is a common home that should be cared for and preserved for future generations. As a Catholic school, we can embody this teaching by adopting sustainable practices and encouraging students to participate in environmentally friendly actions, such as recycling.

Sustainability Club - Sock Animal Toys