“You cannot get through a single day without having an impact on the world around you. What you do makes a difference, and you have to decide what kind of difference you want to make”
- Jane Goodall
GIIS schools have a sustainability policy and commitments, Sustainability team at each campus, regular planning and monitoring of activities.
Every campus has a calendar for sustainability related activities for students and it includes seminars, clean-ups, recycling drives, Environmental days (earth day, biodiversity day, water day etc.) celebrations. Additionally students undertake sustainability related hand-on projects in various subjects.
We provide a green and healthy school campus and grounds. We have projects which include reduction of carbon footprint, waste and water use.
Our aim is maximum participation from students as well as staff and communicate our projects in an effective manner to motivate everyone. We actively engage parents in our programmes. Increasingly our students also are having an impact in their local communities with their passionate initiatives.
Our plan is to provide the latest knowledge & skills in this field to our students and staff. We aim to provide good research opportunities to students and platform in international competitions
Urban Farm placed within the school premises creates a platform for the students to participate and be exposed to environmental stewardship and civic engagement. Through proper guidance in gardening, students will develop a combination of knowledge, skills and values and thus become a responsible caretaker in the future. Students who engage agricultural practices on a small scale learn about impacts of land cultivation, web of interaction among the living and non-living things, and have greater positive attitudes in their adulthood ensuring an environmentally-conscious future.
Butterflies are going extinct due to humans disregarding the environment. Planting a butterfly garden in school will benefit the growth and education of all students and bring awareness of deforestation, global warming and climate change resulting in major loss of habitats. Growing a butterfly garden provides students the hands-on opportunities to learn about metamorphosis, butterfly food preferences and habitat needs. One of the most basic functions of a butterfly garden is to encourage healthy pollination in the area. It also teaches students the importance of Nature’s capital and the general life cycle of insects.
Landscaping flat roofs offers an effective and practical use of space whilst helping to sustain and replace lost habitats in the process. Green roofs can help regulate a building’s internal temperature, reduce stormwater runoff, and mitigate the urban heat island effect. Green roofs offer significant economic benefits, including a longer roof life and heating and cooling energy savings. Green roofs also help in increasing urban biodiversity and ever offer people the psychological benefits of nature.
A living wall is also known as a green wall or a vertical garden inject biodiversity within the school walls, helps in reducing air and noise pollution It also improves sense of well-being for both the staff and students. With the world striving to maximise green areas within built structures, educating children the importance of land scarcity is paramount. (Especially in Singapore’s context). Vertical Greenery is one of the many green technology solutions for the mentioned problems, thus bringing about a more sustainable future and creates a sense of environmental stewardship and biophilia.