Working Together to make it Greener
WISS takes its green credentials seriously and not only works with the local and wider community, but also builds environmental concerns into the curriculum in a way that inspires our young people to explore, understand and help the world around them.
Roots and Shoots
Our Roots and Shoots students were inspired by various conservations initiatives taken across Shanghai and, as genuine IB students, they really wanted to organize something significant in order to acknowledge World Water Day and Earth Hour, both celebrated in March this year.
We are a member of the Roots and Shoots organization and we have several programmes
- The organic garden; we have an outdoor and a greenhouse garden in which we have planted different vegetables. Student volunteers come in on Sundays and give up lunch periods to work in the garden. We have had some help from the Qingpu High School. We have visited their garden and they have sent some of their gardeners to teach us how to build the bamboo fence that surrounds the garden. We currently are looking for more land to designate for extending the garden and we are working hard to upgrade the greenhouse facility.
- Recycling; Students use lunch and break periods to maintain a system of recycling throughout the school
- Watering committee; students are responsible for the care of all plants school wide
- New growth committee; students are involved with the continuous process of putting new seed into the ground
No Electricity Day
To make all students aware of the comfort and luxury electricity provides in our daily lives, WISS held a ‘No Electricity’ day on Thursday 31st March 2011. The lessons were taught without the use of electricity; computers, interactive whiteboards, air conditioners and other electrical appliances were all switched off. We also ate packed lunches, which gave our students a lovely opportunity to have a picnic outside and enjoy the first days of spring in Shanghai as well as save some precious energy. The information from this project was used to better inform our Units of Inquiry in class – bringing the practical into the classroom.
WISS Green Day
WISS Green Day was a chance to raise awareness, through dress and sponsorship, of the Shanghai's Roots and Shoots' Million Trees Project. Younger students in our Student Council presented the donated money to Shanghai Roots and Shoots and watched a presentation on water pollution, its vital role in our lives, and how we can help conserve it and keep it clean. The money collected on WISS Green Day will provide 160 trees to the Million Trees Project.
These are just some examples of how WISS approaches real environmental challenges and supports our students in a better understanding of global problems; taking practical action to help make the world a better place.
