Mary, Star of the Sea Catholic Academy (MSSCA) has received Green Flag status, bringing Bahamas Reef Environmental Educational Foundation's (BREEF) Eco-Schools network to 18 government and 25 private schools over six islands.

MSSCA joins three other schools on Grand Bahama to have received the Eco-Schools Green Flag which is recognized globally as a symbol of excellence for environmental education and practice. The Green Flag Award is validated and renewed every two years.

Giada Gray, MSSCA 10th-grade student and Eco-Club social media manager, said obtaining the Green Flag was a rewarding experience and that she believes it will encourage more students to participate in eco-friendly activities at school, home, and in their communities.

Patrice Medwinter, MSSCA teacher and Eco-Schools coordinator, said in light of the plight being faced globally with climate change and other catastrophes, she was proud to be part of an institution with students and colleagues who recognize the importance of working to preserve the environment for future generations.

"This award will act as motivation for us to keep working toward a sustainable future for all and serves as an acknowledgement of our hard work and commitment to that cause," said Medwinter.

Kevin Glinton, BREEF's Eco-Schools Bahamas (ESB) national operator, took in student presentations and toured the campus with the Grand Bahama Green Flag assessment team. Keep Grand Bahama Clean (KGBC) and ESB National Steering Committee members Nakira Wilchombe, Rashema Ingraham, and Allanah Robinson conducted MSSCA's Green Flag assessment.

Wilchcombe encouraged MSSCA students, staff, and parents to continue to embody environmental stewardship, on and off their campus. She said the students under this program can only become better citizens.

Shannals Johnson, MSSCA principal, accepted the award.

"It is truly an honor and a privilege for Mary, Star of the Sea Catholic Academy to receive this prestigious award of the coveted Green Flag," said Johnson. "As an Eco-School, we are very conscientious and deliberate in our actions of protecting and preserving our country and our world for many generations to come. Being recognized and officially certified as a Green Flag Eco-School means that our school community has inculcated, through consistent hard work and mindfulness, one of the eight characteristics of a Catholic school graduate by being environmentally conscious."

Johnson said the Eco-Club members have been an inspirational driving force behind what she termed an "awesome" and far-reaching initiative.

"MSSCA pledges to always keep it green, clean and pristine, on and behind the scenes," said Johnson.

Glinton said MSSCA has been an exemplary school in the Eco-Schools Bahamas network since it registered in November 2021.

"It was touching to witness their robust whole-school Eco-Schools program, as evident by the excitement and passionate engagement of second-graders with the assessment team during our visit," said Glinton.

Ava Johnson, MSSCA second-grade student, agreed.

"Let's keep our environment clean, it's the best we can do," said Ava. "Be good to it and, in the future, it will be good to you."

Casuarina McKinney-Lambert, BREEF executive director, said environmental education through programs like Eco-Schools Bahamas continues to be a key pillar for BREEF "as it celebrates 30 years of promoting the conservation of the Bahamian marine environment that sustains our way of life".

Since 2009, BREEF has been running the ESB program free of charge through the support of many BREEF donors including The Sean Connery Foundation and the Rolex Perpetual Planet Initiative.

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