By Nick Yates, ISB Communications, and Paola Alonso, ISB Sustainability Manager
Published on Tuesday, April 8, 2025
The International School of Beijing (ISB) has begun two weeks of activity promoting a positive impact on the world’s environmental and social challenges.
People, Planet, Purpose Weeks run until April 18. In line with ISB’s guiding principles and Strategic Focus Areas, People, Planet, Purpose (PPP) brings together the school’s commitments to sustainability and to empowering students and community members with purpose and compassion.
The weeks are a good example of ISB providing learning opportunities that are both challenging and joyful. ISB teaches students to be positive, engaged, and inclusive year-round. This teaching happens in classrooms, on sports fields, and on theater stages. PPP involves academic subjects and activities from science to social studies to performing arts.
Activities for PPP Weeks include…
Curricular alignment
ISB has been reviewing its curriculum to ensure that sustainability is embedded in all subject areas. PPP Weeks have refocused staff attention on this effort.
School leaders and faculty at ISB design programs so that students learn most effectively, experience joy while being challenged, and achieve impressive outcomes. They consider best practice and the latest thinking in how to teach, and all teaching is very carefully planned.
Art and photography exhibitions
Collections of art and photography by ISB students, parents, staff, and community members. They celebrate nature and call for us all to consider our relationship with people and the planet.
Climate Activism Scavenger Hunt
This fun activity challenges students and parents to find posters of climate activists in ISB’s libraries. Hunters get to browse the libraries’ great selection of books on PPP themes. And if they solve the scavenger hunt puzzle, they are in with a chance of winning a sustainable prize.
Earth Hour
For Earth Hours, buildings turn off non-essential lights for 60 minutes to save energy. During PPP Weeks, ISB is turning off hallway lights between 8:00 am and 9:00 am. Don’t worry, it’s being done in a way that maintains safety for students and all community members!
Themed clothing
Elementary School students are coming to school dressed in certain colors corresponding to the themes of their learning. It’s a bright reminder of PPP issues. Because garment manufacturing is a big cause of climate change and waste, ISB has asked Elementary families not to buy any new clothes for these occasions.
Tree planting
ISB students have a tradition of planting trees on campus. Doing so is good for the environment because trees absorb carbon dioxide, give us oxygen, and help purify the air. The activity raises students’ awareness of the importance of trees.
For PPP Weeks, students will plant trees in a nearby park, giving back to their community.
Students to the fore
ISB students have integrity, strength of character, awareness of global issues, and the drive and skills to do something about these issues. Year-round, they have opportunities in their classes and co-curricular activities to provide service to others and create a positive social impact.
Many activities for PPP Weeks are planned and led by students, such as workshops on climate change or the art projects mentioned above.
ISB students’ awareness of sustainability is shown in this essay by Harry P, Grade 11.