The Virgin Islands Conservation Society’s Eco Schools USVI program strives to develop private/public partnerships for collaborative efforts that aim at supporting educators in integrating sustainable education into their schools by bringing together experts, resources and teaching materials aligned with existing curriculum and standards.
Jane E Tuitt School is the first St. Thomas elementary school to participate in the international Eco Schools program, and it has chosen as first pathway (theme) to focus on its school-yard habitat to foster outdoor learning.
Jane E Tuitt teachers attended an Eco School Introduction meeting earlier in the year and expressed interest in signing up with their school Principle Mrs. Bedminster. Several days later Bedminster and Valerie Peters conducted a walkthrough of the school campus and discussed opportunities. It was quickly identified that the school and students would benefit from green spaces that are currently sorely lacking.
“When Mrs. Bedminster asked for assistance with breaking down pallets so that she could build raised beds for her school, I told her I would work on it and get back to her. A few weeks later, I presented Mrs. Bedminster with a list, complete with raised beds, tables, benches, soil, seeds, expertise and volunteers – she was thrilled and maybe a little surprised – of course, she said yes and was so appreciative. All I could think was, this is just the beginning – the sky is the limit and it up to us as a community to help our students soar,” said Valerie Peters.
These organizations heard the call to action and will attend a meeting on Friday, Oct. 5, to support the Jane E Tuitt School as they embark on their Eco School journey and incorporate sustainability into their teaching methodology.
1. My Brother’s Workshop in collaboration with U.S. Coast Guard is offering eight raised beds, picnic tables, benches and volunteers
2. Boschulte Landscaping is donating and delivering rich topsoil for the raised beds
3. Mr. Henley of the Department of Agriculture is providing seeds and his expertise in both agriculture and education.
4. UVI students will assist with building and planting.
As per the National Wildlife Federation Eco Schools USA, The School Yard Habitat pathway learning objectives are to deepen students learning by incorporating a cross-curricular approach to addressing this pathway, including math, the language arts, social studies, technology, engineering and the arts.
Through hands-on, inquiry-based learning, students will use high level thinking and problem solving skills to develop their understanding of natural systems in their community, including but not limited to:
– biomes, ecosystems, habitats, and niches
– habitat needs of plant and animal species
– soil and water science
– earth systems thinking/interconnectedness
– food chains and webs, predator/prey relationships, and other social systems within ecosystems
– a variety of plant and animal species, including threatened and endangered species
– human impact on wild places and wildlife
Students will create a Schoolyard Habitat that:
– Connects students, staff and the community to nature
– is utilized as an outdoor learning laboratory
– conserves water and maintains healthy soil
– utilizes native species instead of invasive and non-native species
– is utilized by all grades within the school
– is created, developed, managed, and maintained by students, staff, and families members
– increases plant and animal biodiversity with special attention to local and regional threatened and endangered species
Students, teachers, parents, businesses and community members who wish to get involved or find out more are invited to contact Valerie Peters at blueflagusvi@gmail.com
