Saint Francis International School
The Holy Father and ecumenical partners have declared the period from the World Day of Prayer for Creation to the feast of St. Francis (Sept 1 to Oct. 4) as the "Season of Creation."
Founded in 2010, Saint Francis International School has always embraced our Franciscan identity and charism as a core part of our mission. The modern understanding of the Franciscan charism demands attention for the principles of "justice, peace, and integrity of creation" (JPIC). Of course, SFIS has been cultivating these themes for years, but this year a lot of our JPIC efforts have come together right at the Season of Creation.
Already this year in science class our middle school students have had a primer on Pope Francis’ letter Laudato Si' while they learned about the relationship between birds and habitats. Their study of birds including work at their homes using bird feeders that they made at school.
During the fall, our 2nd graders planted flower bulbs as part of their year-long tulip project and our 3rd graders worked most Wednesday on their year-long salad garden project.
This week of September 16 to 20 was particularly emblematic week for our efforts in JPIC.
On Wednesday that week, Fr. Jacek Orzechowski, who is the Director of Parish Outreach and Advocacy for Catholic Charities and a member of the Franciscan friars’ international JPIC commission, celebrated a special mass with our K-8 students reflecting on St. Francis' Canticle of Creation (which is the source of the phrase Laudato Si'). On Thursday, grades 6-8 had a "teach in" on climate change and care for creation led by the St. Camillus parish social outreach coordinator Stephanie Mobley and a member of the Franciscan Volunteer Ministry. Meanwhile, the 5th grade was at the Chesapeake Bay in Annapolis, Maryland, for a hands on field trip with the Chesapeake Bay Foundation that included canoeing and hiking.
That Friday, a group of middle school volunteers (about 40) traveled to St. Patrick's Church in DC to participate in a prayer service sponsored by Catholic Charities with teens from many of the Catholic high schools in the Archdiocese of Washington and then they joined thousands of other young people in a climate strike march to the Capitol.
On Sept. 27, our 4th graders traveled to the Smithsonian Environmental Research Center for their own hands on field trip in the Bay. At that point, we were able to say that every grade at SFIS from 2nd to 8th had a major, hands-on environmental education project during the Season of Creation.
But that's not all ... as the Season of Creation wraped up, our Student Council began taking on the task of being leaders improving our school-wide recycling efforts and adding composting in our cafeteria and on Oct. 12, many of our students and their parents joined parishioners and youth from St. Camillus in an effort to clean up our campus.
As part of a long-term plan, SFIS is also scheduled to begin formal work this year on becoming a National Wildlife Federation certified Eco-School (last year our 5th graders helped us become a certified "Schoolyard Habitat" and this year the students are working on expanding our habitat for butterflies and bees).
Next school year, SFIS will seek recognition as a Maryland Green School and in 2021-2022 we hope to submit our application for a Green Ribbon from the US Department of Education.
