Earth Day Celebrations

While we prioritize caring for and honoring our planet every day here at Westtown, Earth Day gives us a special opportunity to celebrate that work. Here’s a look at how each division honored Earth Day.

The Lower School was abuzz with a variety of special activities as they embraced Earth Day with curiosity and wonder. Pre-K students completed an Earth Day Activity Book and took part in an alphabet nature walk, exploring their surroundings and searching for items in nature. They were also introduced to the 3 R’s: Reduce, Reuse, and Recycle. Kindergarten students reflected on their learning through illustrations and writing about ways to care for our planet. First graders celebrated by learning songs and reading books about the Earth, followed by thoughtful conversations about what they love in nature and how we can protect it. They also enjoyed extra time outdoors, taking in the beauty of our campus. Second graders traveled throughout campus—from the Greenwood to the lake and the vernal pond—reading Earth Day stories and observing the signs of new growth all around them. They also explored the concept of perennial plants and the cycles of nature. Third graders walked to the lake for meditative drawing, using the peaceful setting as inspiration, and then gathered for a reflective Meeting for Worship. Fourth graders contributed to the care of our shared spaces by weeding beds near the Lower School playground in preparation for a bird habitat. They also took a writers’ trek, spending time writing under the blooming cherry trees. Fifth graders have been engaging in thoughtful discussions about change movements and environmental justice, demonstrating a growing awareness of how they can make a difference in the world.

A special highlight of the week was Thursday’s fire circle Meeting for Worship in the woods, where the entire Lower School gathered in reflection and community, surrounded by the beauty of nature. During Meeting, students shared messages about the Earth and the importance of caring for it. Their messages echoed their learning throughout the week, reflecting a growing appreciation of nature and a shared understanding of stewardship.

In Middle School, the week began with Meeting for Worship on Monday. The Student Clerks shared three queries related to sustainability and charged the gathering to reflect on the role we play in caring for our planet. The first query connected sustainability to the testimony of integrity, which charges us to match our words to our actions. On Monday and Tuesday, Middle School students did workshops with Rebecca Kamen, our visiting artist for the year. Kamen, along with art teacher Marta Willgoose Salo, facilitated workshops with all students that began with her talking about her creative process and her connection to nature. They then learned about the “Kernel of Truth” project, which Kamen is creating in collaboration with students in all three divisions. The project explores the genetics of corn, leading to a connection and curiosity centered around her work with soil and soil systems. The final project will be an installation featuring patterns representing corn genetics, soil systems derived from soil collected on campus, and soil leaf prints organized in the four directions. Students gathered leaves from around the South Woods and used them to create prints. Those prints will be featured in the final installation, which will be installed in our Chu Gallery in the fall. 

Middle Schoolers also welcomed representatives from the Clear Air Council, Philadelphia’s oldest environmental non-profit. The Clear Air Council is an environmental health advocacy organization fighting for everyone’s right to a healthy environment. Students learned about their work to fight air pollution and about the PurpleAir monitor recently installed at Westtown, which provides real-time air quality data in the area. The monitor, mounted on the Belfry, provides real-time air quality data at the local level and at the regional, national, and global levels. It serves as a powerful educational tool for teachers and students to deepen their understanding of air quality, raise awareness, and engage in meaningful advocacy.

In Upper School, we were honored to welcome Ms. Zulene Mayfield of Chester Residents Concerned for Quality Living as our keynote speaker. She shared her experience advocating for the people of Chester, Pennsylvania, who have suffered the physical and emotional toll of environmental racism. The community group Chester Residents Concerned for Quality Living’s (CRCQL) work provided an example to our students to use their voices to speak up and act out about the injustices around them was clear and powerful. After an Earth-Day-themed lunch, students broke into 19 different workshops that included cleaning up East Chester Creek, upcycling, sewing with scrap fabrics, and learning about sustainability in our buildings from one of our Westtown carpenters. The Upper School also gathered for an Earth Day Meeting for Worship, where queries prompted students to consider the ways in which they can protect their present and future world. The day concluded with intentional, unscheduled time for students to be outdoors and enjoy our incredible campus. Some students chose to canoe at the lake while others played volleyball in front of the Athletic Center or went for a walk.