The Exhibition has always given our students the opportunity to look at world problems and investigate ways in which people and society might tackle these problems. Students research an issue in small groups and share their findings with parents and peers, demonstrating the skills they have acquired as a celebration of their learning in their last year of studies in the PYP. This year, however, it was decided to give more emphasis to the notion of 'action' and encourage students to work on small manageable projects that would further our plans to make Newton a sustainable school. Students researched issues related to a number of our Plan Verde 'doorways' and as a result, initiated twenty-two different 'Projects for Change', including: the collection of tetrapak containers for recycling; effective disposal of out-of-date medicines and alternatives for cleaning the school with chemicals that don't impact on the environment; ecological food waste disposal systems including compost and researching the potential installation of a biodigestor; costing eco-efficient energy systems such as solar panels and hydroelectricity and the development of pilot projects in different areas of the school to improve window and ceiling insulation and establish green roofs and walls to reduce the use of air conditioners; the introduction of vegetable gardens and the growth of medicinal plants for both student enterprise and educational purposes; exploration of school transport systems through the monitoring of parents' driving speed and parking to ensure safety of students when leaving school; and collaboration with communities in Musa and Manchay to further their school resources and fight for their rights for better access to water.
It is planned that these projects will continue as part of our Plan Verde strategy next year and beyond, and that these students will continue developing their projects with the same enthusiasm, initiative, commitment that they have shown during this year, engendering a desire for change and encouraging other students to also take action.