Alumnos de Early Years y sus disfraces hechos con materiales reciclados.

2005-2014 is the United Nations Decade of Education for Sustainable Development which “seeks to integrate the principles, values and practices of sustainable development into all aspects of education and learning, in order to address the social, economic, cultural and environmental problems we face in the 21st century.”

Youth is the most important stakeholder in ESD. As we are in the middle of the decade, it is a good moment for school and parents to evaluate what progress we have made with our children.

Sustainable development seeks to meet the needs of the present without compromising those of future generations. It is about respect for people and the planet’s resources, fauna and flora. It is about the elimination of poverty and responsible economic growth. It challenges the societies that aspire to greater material wealth and increased power of consumption without thinking seriously about the future. It encourages people to reconsider their values, beliefs and lifestyle.

In recent years we have heightened our pupils’ environmental awareness through our curriculum and our Plan Verde. From a very young age our pupils reduce, reuse and recycle. They engage in sustainable activities related to the ten doorways of Plan Verde. Our International Baccalaureate curriculum emphasizes the importance of social equity and intercultural understanding. Our community service projects sensitize pupils to the injustice of poverty.

One of our most important educational aims is to prepare the pupils of today to become the responsible leaders of tomorrow. We must motivate them to become active citizens who passionately care for the well-being of their local and global community.

Nelson Mandela once said: “Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world”. Although we are supporting and implementing the aims of the Decade of ESD, we can all do much more - at school, at home, in society. Every little action that each one of us takes, will make a BIG difference.

Andrew Cino, Headmaster