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n o i t a e Cr Area High Schools Make Sustainability a Priority BY PATRICIA MCGEEVER
Planting a garden that attracts bees, drinking fair trade coffee and using refillable water bottles are simple ways to live and practice our Catholic faith. In his encyclical, Laudato si, Pope Francis calls all of us to take better care of our “common home,” and Laudato si high schools are leading the way in answering this call. “I think there’s this myth that taking care of the environment is about ‘saving the environment,’” said Mark Simcoe, a science teacher at St. Ursula Academy. “We’re actually trying to save the humans, save civilization, by creating a sustainable society. That’s why it fits right in with the basis of Catholic teaching, taking care of one another.” SUSTAINABILITY AT ST. URSULA ACADEMY
Simcoe also moderates St. Ursula’s Earth Club and Green Team. The all-girl high school launched an effort to reduce, re-use and recycle by reducing their lunch facility’s accumulated trash. The students collect recyclables and reuse plates, cups, bowls and silverware. Their efforts decreased the cafeteria’s filled garbage bags from 15 a day to just two. Additional changes initiated by students include composting food waste, selling Fair Trade coffee, wearing Fair Trade uniforms and planting a vegetable garden to donate produce to ministries. “St. Ursula actually cares about what we’re leaving behind,” said Sophomore Reese Pettway. “They just don’t care about the students’ education. They care about giving us something to fight for and something we can believe in.” PLANETEERS AT ROGER BACON
Roger Bacon High School’s Planeteer group has focused on caring for the earth for more than 15 years. “As a Franciscan school, stewardship is very much a key value we hold pretty closely,” said Assistant Principal Paul Zlatic, the Planeteers’ moderator. Recycling and composting occur in the school cafeteria, with some food waste donated to feed chickens in the community. Roger Bacon also has a cell phone recycling program with the Cincinnati Zoo, as well as programs to recycle batteries and dry erase markers. “More than anything, outside of student involvement, it’s become something that’s on the radar in our decision-making process,” said Zlatic. “LED lighting, more efficient heating and cooling, windows that have been completely replaced. There’s a financial benefit.” Environmentally friendly design is considered for every new project. CARE FOR CREATION AT ST. XAVIER
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Max, a student at St. Xavier High School at the school’s Civic Garden Center.
At St. Xavier High School (St. X), care for creation grew from recycling and more responsible water use inside the school to ecology and biodiversity efforts outside of it.
