St James school triumphs in environmental programme

St James Roman Catholic Primary School in Kalk Bay has been recognised for its outstanding commitment to environmental education, winning two top awards at the Sustainable Schools National Rewards ceremony.

The school secured first place in the marine and coast focus area and water and sanitation focus area, two of the eight key categories within the Sustainable Schools programme. 

Their creative approach to sustainability, including water-saving measures like displacing cistern water with bottles to save one litre per flush, set them apart from 16 participating schools, according to Lanah Murray, school coordinator at Nature Connect — formerly the Cape Town Environmental Education Trust (CTEET).

The awards ceremony, honouring schools for impactful environmental initiatives, was held on Friday, March 14, at Workshop 17 in the V&A Waterfront.

Hosted by Nature Connect, the event brought together 32 teachers and partner organisations, including the Western Cape Education Department, the Department of Environmental Affairs and Development Planning, the Two Oceans Aquarium Foundation, the I AM WATER Foundation and the Cape Leopard Trust.

Since 2017, Nature Connect has supported St James RC Primary in its mission to promote sustainability. 

With a history spanning over two decades, Nature Connect focuses on minimising species and habitat loss through three key initiatives.

The Sustainable Schools programme reconnects children with nature and provides educators with the tools to integrate environmental topics into the curriculum.

The Green Skills programmes offer accredited environmental training to out-of-school youth, equipping them with practical skills for careers in conservation.

Additionally, the Nature Care Fund supports conservation efforts, ensuring the long-term protection of natural spaces.

Ms Murray said the Sustainable Schools programme was launched during the Covid-19 pandemic to align education with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) of the United Nations. 

“Our programme integrates education for sustainable development into schools and communities through partnerships and collaboration. We aim to inspire positive environmental and social change by instilling environmentally conscious behaviours in learners,” she said.

“St James RC Primary’s success in the marine and coast focus area highlights their dedication to ocean conservation, while their first-place win in water and sanitation recognises their innovative efforts to reduce water waste,” she added. 

Dugan Jenkins, eco club coordinator at St James RC Primary, praised the school’s efforts. 

“St James is extremely proud and humbled to be acknowledged by Sustainable Schools. We thank our learners and teachers, especially those from the eco committee, for driving this process,” he said.

Mr Jenkins praised the Save Our Seas and I AM WATER foundations for enhancing pupils' environmental awareness.

“Save Our Seas works with our learners weekly for two terms, while I AM WATER takes our Grade 7s on two unforgettable days of snorkelling and marine exploration each year. They’ve come to see how small changes can make a big difference,” he said.