Making strides in environmental stewardship 

The CAAP, run by Canadian organization DoorNumberOne, is a three-year initiative aimed at building and implementing school-wide climate and nature strategies that inspire learning, leadership and action.  

 

Overseeing the CAAP as sustainability strategy coordinators for the Upper School and the Prep, respectively, are Katherine Maloney, UCC CORE coordinator, and Monika Kastelic, Primary visual arts teacher. 

Last year, a CAAP working group was formed that meets online monthly. Its 30-person membership consists of 11 students from the Upper School Sustainability Council, along with faculty, staff, Parents’ Organization and Prep Parents’ Organization reps, and Dr. Julia Kinnear, vice-principal of learning and academic innovation.

“It’s very representative of the school community,” Maloney says, “and we’re looking into having alumni join as well.”

Kastelic adds that they’d also like to expand the group to include Year 6 and 7 students. “It’s an opportunity to have them be inspired and mentored by eco-leaders in the Upper School, so there’s momentum going forward,” she says. “We have a handful of Prep students interested in being leaders in sustainability and regeneration.” 

The CAAP objective to craft an action plan is near being finalized. They are now looking to move on the 70-plus actions outlined in the document. 

One action taking place this week is a visioning session for a learning garden for the Upper School, similar to what exists in the Prep. 

“It’s been actively used for many years and is an important part of wellbeing and belonging,” Kastelic says. “We’re expecting 40 people to attend, and we’re having an opening address from a master gardener, and brainstorming sessions where people can contribute ideas.”

She adds that the garden must align with the College’s sustainability goals and objectives, such as being mindful of Truth and Reconciliation, and considering all groups that would want to participate. “We want to do it right for the long term,” she says.   

There’s also a movement to enhance Prep outdoor learning spaces, including the “Where the Wild Things Are” Garden and the Bird and Butterfly Garden, where students have tossed seed balls during Earth Week. 

“We’ll see how we can tweak these spaces so they’re even more ecologically diverse and supportive of biodiversity, and invite teachers to take the learning outdoors more often,” says Kastelic. 

Motivated by the CAAP working group, kindergarten teacher Pina Porto has taken a leadership role in reducing food waste in the Prep. Says Kastelic, “We’ve had several meetings with our food-service provider, and started a one-month data-collection period, and we’ll go forward from there.”

 

Maloney mentions the sustainability hub set up in the student centre by Upper School students, where the environmental work being done can be shared. Last year, students created a living wall, and the next steps in its design will be unveiled during Earth Week.  

 

She points to key objectives out of the working group that focus on student leadership, communication, and collaborating with students beyond the College. With that in mind, she recently took a group of seven Sustainability Council members to the second annual Toronto Area Youth Action Summit hosted by Toronto French School.   

 

“Four of our students presented at the summit and conducted workshops for their peers,” she reports. “We’ve been invited to host this event next year at UCC, which is very exciting, and aligns with our action plan.”