Learning and Teaching News

Sustainability News 

SMDP has just wrapped up a wonderful Green Week! Our thanks go out to every staff member and student for championing the week’s green initiatives. We are fortunate to be a part of a proactive school community that embraces challenges with such positivity.

This year’s theme was “Less Screen, More Green Time.”

Our ‘Free Time Tracker’ results are in, and they are excellent: on average, SMDP students spent 21.5 hours (21 hours 30 mins) per week on Green Time and just 10 hours on screen time. That’s an outstanding, healthy balance!

A quick note: Since this is an average, parents should adjust screen time based on their child's age. Our focus was on reducing passive screen time (little to no thinking involved), which is different from active screen time (creating, thinking, and communicating). The benefits of active use are significant and outweigh those of passive viewing.

Congratulations to the Raffle Winners

Recycled Crafts & Outdoor Engagement

Lunchtime clubs were a major success, featuring crafts made entirely from recycled materials collected by the community. The goal was simple: get students outdoors and engaged with nature and each other.

The whole school participated in a screen-free day. Students reported enjoying the break more than they anticipated, and teachers appreciated the chance to reflect on and discover new, non-digital learning strategies.

Inspiring Leadership

A huge shout-out to Erika and Gabrielle, our dedicated Sustainability Leaders! Their hard work before and during Green Week was invaluable. As organizers of the Waste Warriors, they ensure our compost and paper bins are sorted and emptied twice weekly with unwavering efficiency and a smile.

Thank you for your collective support in making SMDP a visibly greener and more sustainable learning environment!

Julie Barbey 

Sustainability Leader