At St. Andrew’s College we recognize the need to educate students about global citizenship and environmental stewardship, and to engage students in critical thought and inquiry about the issue of sustainable development. And in line with the School’s Environmental Creed, we are working toward the goal of incorporating concepts related to ecological citizenship into every course, at all grade levels, taught at St. Andrew's College.

Our curriculum is aligned with the Ontario Ministry of Education’s new guidelines for integrating environmental education into all learning, at all grades, and as such, teachers are encouraged to identify learning outcomes relevant to educating for sustainable development. It is vital to the future of our planet that our next generation of community leaders and global citizens has a strong understanding of the environment, climate change, and the importance of conservation. Students, in particular, are demanding more knowledge, better alternatives, and concrete actions. They also want to help make a difference.

In the Middle School we are constantly introducing environmental issues that help our students understand the basic concepts of ecological literacy. This happens in a myriad of ways, such as: environmental monitoring of water quality in the Shad River on campus; calculating personal ecological footprints in geography and French classes; building model landfills in art class; and doing audits of energy-efficient light bulbs around campus. In addition, each grade participates in an Outdoor Education experience, Beyond the Gates, during the first month of school. This activity enables our students to appreciate biodiversity, connect with nature, and develop a clear understanding of the relationship that exists between humans and their environment.

In the Upper School, the focus is more on learning about solutions to environmental problems, such as climate change, air and water pollution, and biodiversity protection. While a significant amount of this work happens in the science classes, we want all of our students to take a well-balanced approach to understanding environmental sustainability, taking into account social justice and economic issues, as well as environmental issues. For example, we will work to include concepts like ecological economics, life-cycle analysis, and triple bottom line accounting in economics, business technology, and leadership classes. Our goal is that education for sustainability will be featured in other courses as well, where students can use real world data on global issues, such as climate change, population, and financial literacy to learn about sustainable development. Moving forward, SAC graduates will be prepared to address the challenges of environmental sustainability, and inspire positive environmental change for sustainable living, locally and globally.