Sustainability and Environmental Leadership Project

Gracie Barra San Clemente is committed to promoting sustainability and Environmental Leadership among its students and other stakeholders. Concern for the environment and promoting a broader sustainability agenda are integrated in the school’s decision making and we promote sustainability awareness in the community of San Clemente by adopting several initiatives aimed to reduce the schools environmental impact and raise awareness among the students so they can do the same.

We believe that environmental awareness is not about being preachy nor is it fanatical. What we are really talking about is balance, logic and a reconnection with the world in which we live. There is so much unnecessary waste that we generate in this world, there are so many unhealthy ingredients that we digest. There are so many things that we do not need or want, that get in our way! We want to empower our staff and students by creating awareness and by demonstrating best practice to the extent possible.

Principles

Our Sustainability and Environmental Leadership Policy is based upon the following principles:

1. To comply with, and exceed where practicable, all applicable legislation, regulations and codes of practice by integrating sustainability and environmental leadership practices into all management decisions
2. To ensure that all staff, students and other stakeholders are fully aware of and committed with the school’s Sustainability and Environmental Leadership Policy and actions.
3. To minimize the environmental impact that results from the school’s activity.
4. To foster awareness, understanding, and action among staff, students and the community of San Clemente about the local and global environment and sustainability challenges.
5. To review, report, and to continually strive to improve our sustainability performance.

Action Plan

In order to put these principles into practice we will:

1. Implement a recycling program aimed to recycle 100% of the paper, printer cartridge, and drinks bottles generated by the school;
2. Make the all necessary efforts use environment friendly products on its operations specially cleaning products and office supplies;
3. Involve the staff, students and other stakeholders in local initiatives aimed to promote sustainability and environmental leadership;
4. Make all necessary efforts to minimize the use of energy by using energy efficient equipment such as light bulbs, building awareness among staff and students, and maximizing the natural air circulation and the use of daylight, and by good house keeping;
5. Make all necessary efforts to conserve water by building awareness among staff and students;
6. Make all necessary efforts to minimize the use of paper by using online communication tools other office consumables and by double-siding all paper used, and identifying opportunities to reduce waste.
7. As far as possible arrange for the reuse or recycling of office waste, including paper, computer supplies and redundant equipment. 
8. Purchase fair-trade and/or organic beverages.
9. Include a copy of our Sustainability and Environment Leadership Policy the students training manual;
10. Develop, implement and constantly improve an internal communications strategy to build awareness among the staff, students, and other stakeholders about the school’s Sustainability and Environmental Leadership Policy;
11. Advertise environmentally focused community events at the schools and stimulate the participation of staff and students;
12. Hold monthly Sustainability  and environmental leadership meetings with the all staff and student’s involved with the schools efforts and make the results of the efforts available at the schools website once a year;