Two of our Junior School teachers (Miss Farrell and Mrs Cassar) are now UN Certified Climate Change teachers while Ms Lindsay, Dr Pearce and Mr Coxhill are making great progress to achieving their awards later this summer. We were curious as to what becoming a UN Climate Change teacher involves and how it will help our school, so we asked Mrs Cassar all about it, as well as her role leading the Eco Council at Junior School.

Why did you decide to become a UN Climate Change teacher? 

I believe Climate Change for children can be an intimidating concept and through discussions with students throughout the years this has become more apparent. Due to this, I’ve always felt that we need to educate them in how to take action that will help ease any climate anxieties that they may be feeling. 

Along with other Eco Coordinators, across the GDST, I originally signed up to gain EduCCate, which is in partnership with The One UN Climate Change Learning Program, to further my understanding in sustainability education and how to use it most effectively to support the next generation and contribute a real impact for change. 

What’s their mission? 

The EduCCate Mission is to ensure teachers are supported in educating children about the world around them, by making sure that they are taught how the world is changing, the human impact, adaptation, and the steps society needs to take to ensure a sustainable future. By embedding sustainability in children’s education, this will better prepare them with the knowledge and skills that they need to help combat climate change now, and in the future. 

What was involved in getting the qualification? What sort of courses did you take? And how?

Through the GDST, each school involved is working towards attaining the EduCCate Bronze certification. In doing so, a team of teachers are expected to complete an array of online courses that are in line with The One UN Climate Change Learning Partnership. Thus far, I have completed an Introductory Course that highlights the various issues surrounding climate change, Children and Climate Change and Climate Change and Human Health. I am intending to complete the final two courses by the end of the year.  Each unit has reinforced and provided me with new information on how climate change is not only impacting our planet, but the physical and mental health of its citizens. 

Which parts were most interesting? 

The area I found most fascinating was understanding how human health is impacted by climate change. There have been many studies conducted throughout the world that identify how individual nations are combating climate change and how this impacts the health and well-being its people. It was also amazing to understand how significantly a change in environment or habit could make such a difference to a person’s physical health. 

How will you bring your learnings from the course into Junior School?

Within the Junior School, the girls show an overwhelming amount of enthusiasm. It is brilliant, as I don’t feel that they need encouragement because they are all producing so many wonderful initiatives on their own. As part of the EduCCate Bronze Award, it is expected that the girls will work towards completing Carbon Buster Challenges. In doing this, we have already completed one which was the Walk, Bike and Bus Challenge run by the Eco Councillors. 

During the week, the girls were encouraged to come to school using a greener mode of transport. There was a Scoot to School day, and they all enjoyed bringing their scooters in to ride on the AstroTurf at break time. We collected data and the girls were all surveyed at the end of the week, to identify if this changed any behaviours or mindsets regarding how they travel to and from school.  

Have you started up any new eco initiatives at Junior School?

With the establishment of the Eco Council, along with the Eco Warrior Club, this has ensured that many girls have a place to talk about and plan initiatives for more sustainable approaches within the school. Most recently, we joined forces with Mrs Ferguson to raise money for the Just One Tree foundation; an organisation that plants trees in areas most affected by deforestation. The girls decided that they wanted to plan a community-based event and established an art exhibition in the Junior School hall for parents to see a collection of diversity collages and recycled art to raise further funds for the charity. 

Next year, we are hoping to introduce many more learning opportunities and activities for the girls that will be run by the Eco Warriors and Eco Councillors.