Sustainability

At Santa Catalina, we aim to educate and prepare students to become responsible stewards of our planet. With a belief system rooted in the Catholic faith and a respect for all life, we are committed to environmental sustainability on campus and in our community. Here are some of the ways we are working to create a better world:

Environmentally Friendly Food
We are proud to feature Bon Appétit as our food service provider and equally proud to have been their first educational client. The winner of the National Resource Defense Council's 2009 Growing Green Award, they are committed to being a leader in sustainable food. Menus often feature locally grown, low carbon fare, and leftovers are composted. By harvesting fruit and vegetables from the school's organic garden, Bon Appétit sees that farm to fork is just a few steps away.

Organic Garden
The school's organic garden broke ground on January 31, 2009. Ten raised beds hold lettuce, spinach, baby greens, beets, broccoli carrots, chard, cucumbers, kale, peas, zucchini, and tomatoes. Herbs are tucked in between plants. Strawberries, blueberries, and raspberries have also been planted, along with apple and plum trees. The garden teaches students about organic gardening practices and the environment. It also provides delicious food for our school menu.

R4 (Reduce, Reuse, Recycle, Restore)
R4, the student-run environmental club, is dedicated to educating classmates and the community about challenges and action steps to ensure the long-term health of our planet. The club oversees the recycling program and works with faculty and staff to create an environmentally sustainable campus. R4 also plans activities for Earth Week.

Earth Week
The week of Earth Day buzzes with activities, including garden parties, special low carbon days in the Dining Hall, a “Buy Reusable” fundraiser sale, and special film screenings. In April 2009, our sixth graders were cleaning Del Monte Beach when they rescued a stranded baby Elephant Seal. The pup was rehabilitated at the Marine Mammal Center and released back into the wild in July.

Reducing Paper Use
By moving a majority of our printed publications online, we are saving trees, water, and energy, and reducing our carbon footprint. We also encourage everyone to think before they print.

Recycling Programs Give Back
The third grade class is proud to make annual donations to the Kinship Center, a nonprofit agency that helps create permanent families for abused and abandoned children. This past year, students raised $414 from recycling bottles and cans they collected on campus. They then went to Target and each student selected $18 worth of items that would make a child feel at home.

Educational Field Trips
Field trips give students the opportunity to interact with their environment. At the Monterey Bay Aquarium, they learn about ocean conservation and how to choose seafood responsibly. Along the coast, tide pools provide valuable information about fragile ecosystems. And trips to local farms provide lessons on growing healthy, sustainable food.