In light of recent global events, even our peaceful lives in Singapore have felt the impact. From rising fuel prices to higher costs at the supermarket, we are all being asked to rethink our consumption. Our country’s leaders have encouraged us to reduce energy—like setting air-con temperatures to 25°C—which is a perfect, practical example of sustainability in Singapore.
Sustainability simply means using finite resources, like natural gas, at a pace that ensures they last for a very long time. When we all use a little less, the whole community benefits. The alternative is using resources as if they are infinite, which leads to a “everyone loses” scenario. At Whistle Woods Schoolhouse, this is where we believe in the “One for All, All for One” spirit.
As a nature-based preschool in Singapore rooted in eco-consciousness, here is how we bring our philosophy to life:
1. Conscious Energy Consumption
Setting our air-conditioning to 25°C is not just a recent reaction; it has been enshrined in our School Policy Handbook since Day 1. Paired with low-speed ceiling fans, this creates a comfortable learning environment for children and teachers while significantly reducing our carbon footprint. This is just one of the many ways we are practising sustainability in our school.
2. Our “Zero Plastic Toy” Touchstone
Another commitment we hold dearly to, is our “zero plastic toy” policy. We view plastic toys as “frozen oil” that consume massive energy to produce and sit in landfills for centuries after they are broken and discarded. Because they often contain mixed materials and hidden chemicals like BPA or phthalates, they are a risk to both the planet and children’s health.
Instead, we curate an inventory of high-quality and natural learning resources. Our teachers are constantly being challenged to source creatively for learning resources that are made of sustainable materials such as wood, bamboo, different textiles, and even sawdust. Beyond sourcing ready made ones, they even create their own resources from scratch, often upcycling from whatever waste we have generated in the school such as cardboard, glass jars and metal tins etc., proving that high quality education does not come packaged in a plastic box.
3. Community Composting
Besides reducing, reusing, recycling/upcyling, we know there is always more that can be done. We view Nature as a teacher that gives us so much; it is only right that we give back.
As part of our ongoing commitment to being a sustainable preschool in Singapore, we are excited to introduce a new initiative: community composting. We partner with a community farm in Bukit Timah, where the food waste generated in our school is collected and transformed into nutrient-rich compost. This compost is then used to nourish crops, completing a natural and meaningful cycle. Our school children benefit from such nature-based learning and grow up to become environmental stewards for the planet.
Kind to the Child, Kind to the Earth
As an ethically-minded boutique preschool, we have outsized aspirations for sustainability. With Earth Day approaching on 22nd April, one of our teachers recently asked if we were planning a special event to commemorate the day. My answer was, ‘No, nothing special.’ This is because, at Whistle Woods Schoolhouse, protecting our environment is not an annual event – it is our way of life, every single day. If our mission to nurture children who coexist in harmony with Nature resonates with you, we would love to meet you and welcome you to visit us.
Warmly,
Eiling