Students at Kids' Congress

Four Year 5 children from St John the Baptist Catholic Primary School have travelled to a camp at Somersby as delegates for the inaugural Kids' Congress, facilitated by the Catholic Diocese of Broken Bay.

Education officer Mr Bernard Cumming said that more than 120 Year 5 children from all over the Diocese came together to consider and debate real world issues and then to make presentation about what they had learnt.

"Lily and Zachary (Red Shirts) had concerns about childhood obesity," Mr Cumming said.

"They shared their concerns with other Year 5 children.

"They listened to guest speakers including dieticians and representatives from the Northern Area Health Service.

"Jordan and Emma (Green shirts) discussed the issue of global warming.

"They had had much discussion at their school before meeting other Year 5 children from other schools, who also had similar concerns.

"They used computers to search the web and also took part in podcasts and blogs."

Mr Cumming thanked representatives from Gosford and Wyong Councils who shared their knowledge on the topic.

"The children decided on action to be taken forward and will report this back to their class, which in turn will lead to action by the children in 2007, when the children will be leaders in their school," Mr Cumming said.

Press release, December 3 Bernard Cumming, Catholic Education Office Diocese of Broken Bay