collated by The Environmental Programs Committee
The most effective way to prevent destruction to our environment is to avert waste in the first place. Classifying waste facilitates proper disposal and minimizes, if not prevents, the entry of toxic wastes in vital ecosystems and ensures reconversion into useful forms. Furthermore, an awareness of the Earth’s limited resources leads to a conscious effort to change one’s consumerist attitude as well as to develop processes and technology that would bring about effective recycling of a great number of resources.
Responding to the call of the times, the school is dedicated to protecting human health, natural resources, and the global environment. This dedication reaches further than compliance with the law to encompass the integration of sound environmental practices in our daily undertakings. Applying the 7 Environmental Principles in actuality promotes awareness to the learners of the responsibilities we all share in conserving and preserving the quality of the environment.
Here are the environmental programs and initiatives being implemented and strictly observed in the school. The pupils, teachers, staff, parents, and guardians are informed about these during the orientation programs and are engaged in effectively implementing these programs.
1. HIKWATAN: Ecological Integrity Program
“HIKWATAN” is an Ifugao terminology that means “cleaning, or the habit of doing some weeding to help naturally regenerate trees to grow.” The school’s “Hikwatan” Ecological Integrity Program emphasizes environmental awareness and the importance of ecological processes to understand the fragility of our environment and the importance of its protection. This system of environmental management addresses the environmental impact of the school’s activities. It helps to establish goals, processes, and procedures that will improve the school’s impact on the environment and the health of the people in the community.
2. Cash from Trash: A Clean and Green Program
There are designated “Earth Bins” (trash bins shaped like the Earth) within the school campus, wherein all used containers/bottles of drinks are dunked into. The collection is done by designated staff members and even the members of the YES-O Club and consequently stored temporarily in the school’s Materials Recovery Facility (MRF). These collected trashes are then sold on a regular basis. The collection is kept by the school Cashier, and at the end of the academic year, the total amount is used to purchase school materials to augment the learners’ instructional materials.
3. Solid Waste Management Program through:
A. Materials Recovery Facility
Schools may have various ways and means of implementing a sound Solid Management Program. In the SLU BEdS, an existing Materials Recovery Facility (MRF) stores solid wastes from the classrooms, offices, and canteens that can still be reused or recycled. The other materials that can no longer be utilized are then sold to junk shops to generate funds to purchase needed additional materials for the pupils/students to use. In the past years, funds generated from the selling of materials from MRF were used to acquire sports equipment for the learners to use during Clubs.
b. Waste Segregation Program
The school community uses designated trash bins to put their biodegradable and non-biodegradable wastes. This practice is enhanced and supported by the curriculum as the Science Department takes the lead in informing the pupils/students about this advocacy and mission of the school as well as the advantages of putting this program into practice in school and even at home and in the community.
4. “Gulayan sa Paaralan” and the Observance of “Vegetable Day” in the Pupils’ Food Schedule
Incorporating vegetables into the pupils’ diet is genuinely beneficial to their health. Thus, the elementary department has incorporated into its Food Schedule every Wednesday and Friday the pupils’ consumption of vegetables and daily for them to eat fruits at recess or lunch. In support of this meaningful practice, the school has allotted a piece of land on its campus where native vegetables are planted and reared by the maintenance personnel as well as the club members. The school personnel and some parents have benefited from the vegetables harvested from the plots.
5. School Beautification Program and Clean and Orderly Classrooms and Offices
It has always been a practice of the school to remind its teaching and non-teaching personnel, pupils, and parents to maintain the pleasantness of the school campus through a constant Beautification Program. Plants and trees abound on the campus. The maintenance of clean and orderly classrooms and offices is likewise noteworthy. For many years now, the administrators in the elementary department have consistently implemented a program for the selection of the Cleanest and Most Orderly Classrooms and Offices. This friendly competition paved the way for the sustenance of a pleasant atmosphere in the different classrooms and offices as the goal has been met to make every nook of the learning community spick and span and conducive for learning and growth among the learners, and a motivating place of work for its staff.
6. Smoke-free, Plastic-free, Styro-free Campus Advocacies
Posted within strategic places within the school campus are placards and posters depicting the advocacies the school promotes.
Let us maintain a:
- Smoke-free,
- Bully-free,
- Noise-free,
- Plastic-free, and
- Styro-free School!
7. Energy Conservation Advocacy
It is likewise a practice among the teachers and staff to be mindful of the use of electricity and equipment in school to be turned/switched off whenever these are not in use. They also report leaking faucets or defective lights that the custodian must repair or replace. This lesson is likewise developed in the classrooms in order for the pupils/students to be more aware of their share in conserving energy in school and even at their own homes for the ultimate benefit of Mother Earth.
8. BYOM (Bring Your Own Mug/Materials) Advocacy
One striking practice among the teachers and staff is this advocacy wherein they bring their own coffee mugs and/or utensils during meetings and special gatherings when snacks are served. The school continues to avoid purchasing bottled water or juice in tetra packs for snacks. When coffee is served, the teachers and staff bring and use their own mugs instead.
