Developing Learners’ Sense of Responsibility towards the Environment
Sustainability and climate change are two interrelated terms of significance and importance for students and society in general.
Sustainability involves maintaining a balance between the long-term health of our planet's ecosystems, communities, and economy. Its goal is to make decisions and take actions in a way that meets current needs while preserving the capacity of future generations to meet their own needs. This entails striving to create a balance between human activities and the environment by promoting actions that do not deplete natural resources.
In this context, climate change refers to drastic variations in global climates, especially the ongoing increase in the global average temperature. These changes are primarily due to human activities such as the burning of fossil fuels, the destruction of tropical forests, and the release of greenhouse gases into the atmosphere.
Mission: Educating environmental excellence: Our mission is to learn, respect and protect and ensure our every action creates a greener and greater future for all. As Global Citizens, we contribute largely to multiple endeavours which help build a safer, more sustainable and connected environment.
Vision: Oryx International School aims to establish a legacy of environmental awareness, where each student becomes a champion in sustainable development and strives for a prosperous tomorrow.
"We have a team"
"The Eco Warriors are a group of students selected by their peers in primary and voluntarily join in secondary school.", highly committed and motivated, whose mission is to foster a sense of environmental responsibility among students and promote sustainability within the school. This group plays a crucial role in the school's efforts to achieve the prestigious Eco Schools Green Flag Award by the end of the academic year 2024.
The process consists of 7 Steps to promote sustainability and environmental responsibility
The first step is to form an Eco Committee within the school. This committee generally includes students, teachers, and staff members who are passionate about environmental issues. They will be responsible for leading the school's eco-initiatives.
The Eco Committee conducts a comprehensive environmental review of the school. This review assesses the school's current environmental performance in various areas such as energy consumption, waste management, water usage, and biodiversity.
Based on the findings of the environmental review, the committee develops an action plan. This plan outlines specific goals and actions that the school will take to address environmental issues and improve sustainability. It may include initiatives to reduce energy consumption, minimize waste, and increase ecological awareness among students and staff.
The school implements the action plan and monitors progress regularly. Data and evidence of changes are collected to track improvements in environmental performance. This step ensures that the school is on track to achieve its sustainability goals.
Integrating environmental topics into the school's curriculum is fundamental. This step involves incorporating environmental education into classroom lessons, promoting projects with ecological themes, and raising awareness among students about the importance of sustainability.
The Eco Committee engages with the broader school community, including students, parents, and local organizations. It is important to inform and engage everyone in eco-friendly initiatives and encourage their active participation.
Once the school has successfully implemented its action plan and made significant progress in sustainability, it can apply for the Eco Schools Green Flag Award. The application includes evidence of achievements and the impact of eco-initiatives.
A DobinsonAssistant PrincipalEveryone is responsible for cultivating change towards a better future for our children and the generations to come. We must encourage everyone around us to break free from the den of pessimism and partake in the politics of hope. I greatly look forward to a year of sustainable development led by the Oryx Eco-Warriors as they take their activism to the next level.
Sustainable Successes
We are delighted to have achieved a variety of significant milestones to ensure sustainable actions in our school.
