At Island School, we are committed that our whole community lives by our core values of pursuing excellence, embracing responsibility, and celebrating individuality. These values underpin our commitment to sustainability and play a pivotal role in shaping our students to become true global citizens and leaders. Through our comprehensive curriculum and sustainable practices, we equip our students with the skills and knowledge necessary to address pressing environmental challenges and become catalysts for positive change.

While the concept of sustainability is threaded through all areas of our curriculum, central to our sustainability efforts is the development of our Explorations programme. This takes an interdisciplinary approach to learning and focuses on actions and solutions to key global environmental and social issues. We believe that by fostering a deep understanding of the interconnectedness between humans and the environment, we empower our students to make informed decisions and take effective action. Our curriculum provides opportunities for experiential learning, interdisciplinary projects, and real-world problem-solving, empowering students to tackle global issues with creativity and critical thinking.

Our school has an active environmental group that focuses its activities on three core areas: waste management, energy usage and enhancing biodiversity.

We have implemented recycling and waste reduction programmes that actively involve our students, staff, and parents. By instilling responsible consumption habits and promoting the principles of reduce, reuse, and recycle, we cultivate a culture of sustainability within our community. Our initiatives include composting organic waste through our canteen, advocating for the use of reusable containers and water bottles, and collaborating with local organisations for responsible disposal of various waste materials. We run a variety of collection drives throughout the year that look to redistribute and reuse secondhand clothing, toys, books and various other items. One of our flagship projects we have developed is our own recycling centre. Students within our D&T department built the various machines needed to turn plastic waste into new items using open-source plans from Precious Plastic. These machines have been upgraded over the years to more industrial-sized equipment in order that we can recycle more of our own waste. These recycled materials are then used as teaching materials/resources for our students within our curriculum.

Energy usage is another critical aspect of our sustainability commitment. Island School has implemented energy-efficient measures throughout our new campus, such as solar panels, LED lighting, and smart building systems. By reducing our energy consumption and embracing renewable energy sources, we not only contribute to combating climate change but also provide hands-on learning opportunities for our students. They gain a deep understanding of the importance of energy conservation and the potential of sustainable technologies.

We are fortunate with regard to our location surrounded by diverse natural landscapes. Although in the heart of urban Hong Kong, forests and mountain streams run close by. We recognise the need to protect and promote biodiversity. Our students actively engage in ecological and gardening projects, creating habitats for local flora and fauna and participating in initiatives that raise awareness about the delicate balance of ecosystems.

The importance we place on developing a curriculum that supports sustainability is a testament to our commitment at Island School. We are proud of the achievements of our students and staff but there is always more to be done. Our move back to a new campus has given us some great opportunities as a community but has also presented us with some new challenges. We are excited to build new partnerships with the likes of TASS and see these partnerships as key to our future success.