Earlier this week, St. Catherine's came together to celebrate World Ocean Day with students across all age groups exploring the importance of protecting our oceans and developing a deeper understanding of environmental responsibility.

From Nursery to the Upper School, students engaged in a wide range of creative, educational, and hands-on activities designed to inspire action and highlight the vital role our oceans play in sustaining life on Earth.

Upper School: Sustainability in Action

Students in the Horticulture and Sustainability Club marked both Environment Day and World Ocean Day by exploring the impact of everyday products on marine ecosystems. After learning about the chemical ingredients found in some sunscreens that can harm coral reefs and marine life, students had the opportunity to create their own reef-safe sunscreen.

This practical activity encouraged students to consider how individual choices can contribute to protecting fragile ocean environments while celebrating the connection between environmental stewardship and sustainable living.

Lower School: Learning, Action and Advocacy

The Lower School welcomed representatives from Healthy Seas for an inspiring World Ocean Day assembly. Students learned about the concept of the circular economy, the importance of Marine Protected Areas, and how our one global ocean connects communities and ecosystems around the world.

Through engaging discussions, students discovered how everyday choices – from reducing consumption to being mindful of our carbon footprint - can impact wildlife and people thousands of miles away.

To further support ocean conservation efforts, students took part in a Wear Blue Day on Monday, 8 June, raising funds for Healthy Seas and their work alongside Ghost Diving teams who remove abandoned fishing nets from the ocean. These recovered materials are then transformed into everyday products such as socks, carpets, and beachwear. Thanks to the generosity of our community, over €480 was raised to support this important initiative.

Ocean literacy was also woven throughout the curriculum. Students explored ocean-themed fiction and non-fiction in the library, learned about Marine Protected Areas in France and French overseas territories during French lessons, and used technology lessons to create Google Earth maps highlighting Marine Protected Areas in Greece.

As a proud member of the European Network of Blue Schools, the Lower School continues to encourage students to make thoughtful choices that contribute to the protection of our oceans and planet.

EYFS: Discovering the Ocean Through Play

Our youngest learners embraced World Ocean Day through a variety of imaginative and engaging activities designed to build awareness through exploration and play.

Children created a collaborative Ocean Wall featuring sea creatures and discussions about pollution, designed their own colourful fish, made sea-themed belts and headdresses, and explored blue-themed sensory activities including playdough, floor collages, and gloop play.

Hands-on experiences included beach clean-up challenges in paddling pools, sailboat races in water trays, and rescue missions where children worked to save sea creatures trapped in nets. Through these activities, our Early Years students began developing an understanding of caring for marine environments while having fun and expressing their creativity.

Looking Ahead

World Ocean Day provided a valuable opportunity for students across the school to learn about the challenges facing our oceans and to recognise the positive impact that informed choices and collective action can have.

By combining learning, creativity, fundraising, and practical action, our students demonstrated that everyone has a role to play in protecting our planet's most precious natural resource. We are proud of their enthusiasm and commitment and look forward to continuing our journey towards a more sustainable future.