This Earth Day, students and teachers across WAB teamed up for a community-wide Day X focused on Promoting Sustainability through Appreciation for Nature, Recycling, and Repurposing. As one of four annual cross-campus learning days, Day X is a chance for students to connect across grades and take action. 

Why Sustainability Matters  

"Across the series of Day X engagements, we come together as a learning community for different themes. Earth Day is a great time to celebrate nature, especially as Spring arrives in Beijing," shared Stephen Taylor, Director of Innovation in Learning and Teaching. 

"The main goal of Day X is to connect our learning community, so older and younger students can learn with and from each other, make bonds, and build positive relationships. With Sustainability Day, these connections were based on appreciation for our natural environment and the things we can do to make a positive difference," Stephen added. 

This Earth Day also highlighted student agency and hope through action, whether through farming, reducing waste, or protecting biodiversity. Each activity was designed to help students apply deep learning to real-world contexts, inspiring action and purpose. 

Buddy Projects with Purpose 

Earth Day was filled with hands-on activities that connected students across grade levels. These experiences encouraged collaboration, problem-solving, and a deeper understanding of sustainability through action: 

• EY, JG1 & G11 buddies explored nature and recycling through interactive play and activities. 
• SG1 & Grade 6 buddies joined high school mentors Zi Ming and Zoe, whose CAS projects focus on pollinators, for a session on bee conservation, planting wildflowers to support biodiversity. 

• Grades 2 & 7 hosted a student-run thrift market, turning pre-loved items into funding for green initiatives and learning about the importance of reusing and repurposing. 
• Grades 3 & 8 partnered up to test Duck Lake’s water quality and collected trash, all while learning about ecosystems and environmental impact. 
• Grades 4 & 9 got their hands dirty at a local organic farm, learning about sustainable agriculture from the soil up. 
• Grades 5 & 10 met to share their PYPX and Personal Project journeys, exchanging ideas and learning from each other’s research and actions. 

Learning That Grows 

For Middle School teacher Ian Slate, a highlight of the day came from watching Grade 6 students guide their SG1 buddies through the wildflower planting activity. "I was lucky to be stationed at the wildflower planting activity and observed Grade 6 gardeners excellently guiding their younger buddies through the raking, planting, and watering stages,” said Ian. “Hopefully, we’ll soon have a beautiful flower walkway through Middle School thanks to their efforts."

He added, "Earth Day gives our students an opportunity to connect the knowledge and skills in their heads with their empathy and passion in their hearts and the action of their hands. This holistic approach to education allows students to connect with their learning on a deeper and more meaningful level."

The Impact Beyond One Day 

It's clear that Earth Day planted more than seeds; it cultivated leadership, connection, and a sense of responsibility. These are the kinds of experiences that nurture both knowledge and lifelong skills.  

Through days like this, students experience what it means to be stewards of the planet and changemakers in their communities. Together, we're not just imagining a greener future, we're actively growing it.