Sixth graders from the Encinitas Union and Del Mar Union School Districts were among 200 young students who gathered at the Reuben H. Fleet Science Center on April 22 for the inaugural United Nations Global Goals Earth Day Summit. The event, which also included students from the San Ysidro and National School Districts, was an opportunity for students to demonstrate their leadership skills and lead informed conversations about sustainability issues that impact the planet.
According to a news release, the hands-on learning experience represented a collaboration across several San Diego school districts. The idea came out of the Classroom of the Future Foundation’s “Supe Tank,” a program where San Diego County superintendents make pitches on innovative projects to education and industry leaders. The UN Global Goals Earth Day Summit was developed by Superintendents Dr. Holly McClurg (Del Mar) Dr. Andrée Grey (Encinitas), Dr. Leighangela Brady (National) and Dr. Gina Potter (San Ysidro).
From just an idea at Supe Tank, the summit became a reality as local organizations sponsored all costs of the event venue, transportation and meals. Sponsors included the Fleet Science Center, North Island Credit Union, Stemscopes, National University, SchoolsFirst, First Federal Credit Union, North San Diego Business Chamber and the Classroom of the Future Foundation.
To prep for the summit, each district selected 50 sixth-grade students to investigate one of the United Nation’s Sustainable Development Goals. Del Mar students explored the goal of “Responsible Consumption and Production” while Encinitas students focused on “Good Health and Well-Being”.
According to a news release, over several months, the students researched challenges, crafted solutions and prepared presentations and interactive exhibits. At the summit, they were able to lead roundtable discussions, connect with peers from other districts and apply their learning to real-world contexts.
“This summit was an extraordinary example of what’s possible when school districts come together with a shared purpose,” said Grey in the news release. “Our sixth graders not only deepened their understanding of global challenges, they demonstrated that when students engage with topics such as sustainability, they can become powerful voices for a better future.”
