Sustainability
Dr. Maria Montessori viewed humans as an integral part of nature, here to appreciate with awe and wonder all of God’s creations and to be stewards of the global community. In The Absorbent Mind she wrote,
“Only through freedom and environmental experience is it practically possible for human development to occur.”
St. Catherine’s Montessori is dedicated to continuing Montessori’s vision of collaboration with nature at every stage of human development on our two campuses through a variety of curriculum and sustainable choices by our students, faculty and staff.
Nature is at every turn of our students' education, and every class has their own outdoor garden space at St. Catherine's. Students at every level help reduce waste, recycle materials, and tote food scraps to various compost bins throughout the school grounds. The compost then nurtures 16 classroom gardens and the vast Adolescent Community Garden, which grows 55 varieties of fruits and vegetables annually.
The Infant Community's garden feeds their pet rabbit. The Courtyard for Primary Students provides ample opportunities to explore the wonders of nature through a pocket prairie and wildflower gardens. Off the Elementary wing is the Wildflower Restoration Meadow project through Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center. Outside our high school's wing is the pollinator garden partnership with Xerces Society for Invertebrate Conservation.
St. Catherine’s students learn to see how their actions impact those around them, understand the interdependency of the web of life, and recognize their responsibility to preserve and enhance the earth.
On a larger scale, the school is committed to maintaining and developing the campus in a sustainable way. The school's building was the first LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) Certified K-12 school in Texas. Future development projects are always planned with the environment in mind.
St. Catherine's students will play an important role in shaping our world. By educating environmentally-responsible people, we are investing in a sustainable future.
