Learning about sustainability and environmental justice is imperative for today’s youth, who will face increasingly unpredictable climate challenges. This call as a “steward of creation” is foundational in Catholic Social Teaching as part of living one’s faith in relationship with all of God’s creation. As Pope Francis reminds us in “Laudato Si: On Care for our Common Home” (2015), “A true ecological approach always becomes a social approach; it must integrate questions of justice in debates on the environment, so as to hear both the cry of the earth and the cry of the poor.”

This ethos is alive and buzzing—quite literally—in Lauren Winkler’s classroom. While teaching Grade 5 and 6 Religion classes, Mrs. Winkler leads the Middle School Sustainability Club, which has recently been busy crafting bee hotels using recycled aluminum cans and paper tubes. These handmade shelters will soon be placed in Stone Ridge’s garden, ready to welcome bees as they emerge in spring. The garden, filled with native plants cultivated in recent years, is a vibrant hub to attract and sustain greater numbers of pollinators on campus.

“Planting seeds is great, but it’s also about nurturing those ideas into something bigger.”

- Lauren Winkler, Middle School Religion Teacher

Mrs. Winkler’s passion for sustainability is evident in her teaching: “My goal in teaching religion has always been to make it both relevant and meaningful,” she says. Her unit, Becoming Stewards of Creation, draws on Catholic Social Teaching to explore the intersection of faith, climate change, poverty, and environmental justice.

The unit begins with the early creation stories in the Bible. It transitions to a study of Pope Francis’ “Laudato Si,” the groundbreaking 2015 encyclical advocating a deep commitment to environmental and social justice. Grounded in Goal III of Sacred Heart education—to educate to a social awareness which impels to action—Mrs. Winkler encourages her students to reflect on what it means to be a “steward of creation.” “One of Pope Francis’ calls in ‘Laudato Si’ is for young people to get involved,” she notes.

In her classroom, that call is met with enthusiasm. Students examine climate change's history and social impacts, particularly on marginalized communities, and learn about young activists like Greta Thunberg, Vanessa Nakate, Xiye Bastida, and Amanda Gorman, who lead the charge for environmental justice globally. The unit concludes with exploring the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals, which address global poverty, environmental sustainability, and social equity challenges.

This learning experience is designed for Middle School students to foster connections between themselves and their impact on the environment and their communities while seeding future action. For Mrs. Winkler, helping students make connections and take action is incredibly rewarding. And those seeds are blossoming. 

“Over the years, many sustainability initiatives on campus have come from Middle School girls,” she shares.

Stone Ridge’s Sustainability Committee—comprised of students, faculty, and staff—has become a dynamic force for environmental education and action. Co-led by Director of Education Technology and Innovation Jaime Chao Mignano and Director of Facilities Shelton Higgins, the committee meets monthly to drive a variety of initiatives, including creating a tiny forest, installing additional bird habitats, amplifying recycling and composting programs, and exploring future projects such as solar panels and EV charging stations on campus.

Middle School students’ commitment to the care of creation is firmly cemented in leadership opportunities throughout the School. For the second consecutive year, the Middle School Student Council includes a sustainability representative who also serves on the Sustainability Committee. This role empowers students to advocate for environmental issues among their peers. Each grade level also elects a committee representative, further embedding sustainability into student leadership. These student leaders have spearheaded initiatives like assembly presentations; last year, a sustainability representative inspired peers by sharing stories of young environmental activists worldwide.

Currently, plans are underway to launch a student-led sustainability newsletter featuring campus updates, tips for thoughtful consumerism, and creative ways to reduce, reuse, and recycle—such as fashion exchanges to combat fast fashion dominance.

“The momentum is growing across the School,” notes Mrs. Winkler. “Planting seeds is great, but it’s also about nurturing those ideas into something bigger.” Sustainability will undoubtedly play a more prominent role in these students’ futures as their communities face uncertainties and resource management and conservation practices become more imperative.

The culture of stewardship, creativity, and collaboration that “Laudato Si” encourages shapes a generation ready to tackle environmental challenges. Many of Mrs. Winkler’s former students remain actively involved in sustainability efforts, underscoring the lasting impact of these lessons.

At Stone Ridge, sustainability is a mindset and a mission deeply rooted in Catholic Social Teaching and the formation of students. By cultivating leadership, creativity, and a deep sense of responsibility, the Middle School’s sustainability efforts exemplify Goal V of Sacred Heart education: personal growth in an atmosphere of wise freedom. As significant strides have been made in fostering a culture of environmental stewardship, students continue to innovate as new challenges arise and deepen their commitment to creating a more sustainable future for all.