Sustainability is as much about compassion as it is science; it takes care to enact change. Across the SJS community there are students, faculty and staff who continue to learn, inquire and empower change around our school.
All Green Thumbs
Last year saw the creation of the Senior School Green Club, a yearly co-curricular for students curious to learn about, or passionate to advocate for, sustainability at SJS.
Students from Grade 8 to 12 who joined were quick to identify gaps that mattered to them.. With the second floor of the senior school featuring a large back patio behind the classrooms, the students saw an opportunity to improve the spaces with planters. Thanks to Annual Giving, they were able to make that a reality.
โLast year we focused on planting,โ says Claire, who is starting Grade 11 this September. โMoving forward we would like to look to get the school more involved. I think we can find a lot of ways to be more sustainable.โ
At the Senior School Co-Curricular Fair this week, students had the opportunity to learn more about the various clubs available to them, including Green Club. When asked what students should consider joining Green Club, Claire says that a little care goes a long way.
โIf youโre at all interested in the environment and sustainability, then youโre going to enjoy Green Club. And youโll learn a lot along the way, so donโt worry about knowing everything.โ
SJS Gets the Gold
The creation of the student Green Club was initiated by the Sustainability Committee, a group of staff and faculty dedicated to improving sustainability at SJS. Building on our 2024โ2025 Bronze award, the school was awarded Gold certification for 2025โ2026 by EcoSchools, in recognition of sustainability efforts across campus. Key initiatives included the rooftop garden, the SJS Bike Bus and community clean-ups, alongside environmental literacy embedded within the IB curriculum.
EcoSchools is a national environmental certification program that supports and celebrates student-driven sustainability efforts in schools across Canada. It provides a framework to guide schools in taking meaningful action on climate change and environmental education, while aligning with global goals such as the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
Thank you to the 2025โ2026 Sustainability Committee for the hard work and efforts put into the sustainability initiatives this year. We are proud of our commitment to sustainability and look forward to growing our efforts.
Opportunities like this are made possible through the generosity of our community through Annual Giving. Your support enables initiatives that enhance the student experience in academics, co-curriculars, arts, athletics, wellness, service, outdoor learning and more. Help create future opportunities by visiting sjs.ca/support/annual-giving.
