Best of the Week 2019-2020: Excellence in College Prep

ENVIRONMENTAL CLUB CONTINUES TO GROW SUSTAINABILITY AWARENESS AT ST. ED'S

Students involved in St. Ed's Environmental Club work together to promote environmental sustainability not only within our community, but especially at St. Edward High School. Within her first year of teaching at St. Ed's, Social Studies teacher Ms. Amber Greenwolf has been serving as the new Environmental Club moderator, leading students to participate in recycling initiatives throughout the 2019-2020 school year. To continue celebrating Women's History Month, St. Ed's would like to recognize Ms. Greenwolf for her leadership and inspiration that has continued the growth of the Environmental Club's impact on the St. Ed's community.

"I think it's important for boys to have strong role models, both male and female, but since men are often more visible in leadership roles, the role of women at St. Ed's takes on an extra importance," says Ms. Greenwolf. "I think the Environmental Club is a great opportunity for students to become more balanced and well-rounded, to care about something bigger than themselves, to gain new skills or new interests they may never have tapped into, and to learn how reliant we all are on the Earth that provides for us."

To fully understand the impact of our daily choices and how they affect our community, Ms. Greenwolf and members of the Environmental Club have been researching and studying the different aspects of St. Ed's environmental footprint while looking into new sustainable options that can be put in place on campus. "The students are eager to learn in general and have an interest in protecting our planet," says Ms. Greenwolf. "We've been working throughout the winter in getting more funding for recycling bins and to offer more sustainable products at St. Ed's." Not only have students in the Environmental Club made a great impact with their ongoing recycling initiatives on campus, the skills they're learning through collaboration and problem-solving can be applied to real-world, career opportunities in the fields of science, engineering, social services, and conservation. "The skills students learn by participating in the Environmental Club will help them contribute to bettering the planet, to regenerate natural resources, and to promote healthy lifestyles. Through their participation, they can spark an interest in sustainable, clean energy - one of the fastest growing job sectors," says Language Acquisition Department Chair Mrs. Lisa Hardin, who has been assisting Ms. Greenwolf in an upcoming Environmental Club project.

While still in the early stages of the project, the Environmental Club plans to create a St. Edward High School garden in the near future. Through collaboration with the IB Design Technology classes, students will help build garden beds on the north side of campus that will feature a salsa garden and a pollinator garden with various flowering plants. The Environmental Club is looking for additional volunteers to assist with project preparation in addition to planting, watering, weeding and harvesting the upcoming garden. For those interested in contributing to the Environmental Club's new project and to help create a thriving garden at St. Ed's, please contact Ms. Greenwolf or Mrs. Hardin for more details on how to get involved.