Small Steps, Big Strides

Sustainability at EB: Our Journey Continues!
By Elodie Resurreccion, French Program Coordinator

At EB, we know that big changes start with small steps. We're committed to making our school a place where taking care of the planet is part of everything we do. We're proud to be part of the Eco-School and EFE3D (Établissement Français à l'Étranger en Démarche de Développement Durable, or French International School in a Sustainable Development Approach) programs, which help us learn and grow in our sustainability efforts.

We've made great progress! We've achieved Bronze Level in the Eco-School program, meaning we've started real actions to protect our environment, and Level 2 in the EFE3D program, showing we're making sustainability part of our daily lives, lessons, and decisions.



What We've Achieved This Year:

Goodbye Plastic, Hello Stainless Steel! (Preschool)
We've replaced plastic bowls and silverware in TPS, PSA, PSMS B, PSMSC, PSMS D, KA, KB, and KC with safe, stainless steel bowls. The final delivery for PSMS C/D and K is coming during spring break! This is important because plastic can release harmful particles, especially with hot food. Stainless steel is safer for our students and better for the planet.

No More Glitter! (School-Wide)
Our Eco-Delegates, inspired by this year's ocean theme, have taken a big step by eliminating plastic glitter. Glitter is tiny plastic that harms ocean animals, and it's already banned in Europe. As a French school, we want to follow these important safety rules. Our Eco-Delegates collected 14 kilograms (30 pounds!) of glitter from teachers and are now working on ideas to transform it sustainably. We'll keep you updated on their progress!

Upper Elementary Assemblies: Eco-Delegates Take the Lead!
​​Throughout the school year, our Eco-Delegates, with the dedicated support of their teacher Jessica Cislowski, have been organizing engaging and informative assemblies for the upper elementary grades (G3, G4, and G5) in the MPR. These assemblies serve as a vital platform for fostering environmental awareness and promoting sustainable practices within our school community, while also providing updates and global news on upper elementary projects. Sustainability remains a core focus, with each assembly incorporating elements that encourage eco-conscious thinking and action.

G4 Learning Service: Educating on Trash at the Second Assembly !
During the second upper elementary assembly of the year, the G4 students, under the guidance of their English teacher, Heather McWhinney, took center stage to deliver six meticulously researched and crafted presentations on effective waste management. Aiming to educate their peers, teachers, and staff, the G4 students demonstrated exceptional dedication, partnering with Enola and Zohe from the City of Berkeley to ensure alignment with local waste management guidelines. The students were particularly proud to see Enola and Zohe in the audience on April 8th, recognizing their valuable contribution and engagement. This project provided the G4 students with invaluable opportunities to develop and refine critical skills in public speaking, collaborative research, effective multimedia presentation delivery, and leadership, all within a real-world, community-focused context. 

In-Service Day Highlights
During our recent in-service day, we shared important slides that detailed our sustainability initiatives and plans. Laura Kuhlemann and Mike Robert were our guests and talked with the full EB staff. These slides are now available for viewing here. We encourage you all to review them to gain a deeper understanding of our school's commitment to a greener future.



Green Week: Celebrating Earth!
When we return from spring break, we'll be celebrating Earth with a special Green Week! Get ready for a week filled with exciting events and activities focused on sustainability. Our Eco Elders will be sharing more details soon, so stay tuned!

What's Next?
Our journey to a greener EB continues! We need everyone—students, staff, and parents—to work together. Check out the latest from our Padlet, here. If you want to join the Eco Elders please sign up here: 


Together, we can make EB a leader in sustainability and create a brighter, greener future for our children. Let's keep making a difference! 💚♻️