Vision

We are St. Bernard School, the patron saint of bee keeping. We are on a school wide inquiry into bee keeping and sustainability. We propose the establishment of a pollinator meadow in the school yard to support biodiversity, sustainability, and Climate resilience. This project aligns with our commitment to environmental stewardship, promoting native species, and honouring indigenous Knowledge of land management.

Action

St. Bernard School is buzzing with excitement as students and staff embark on a Deep Learning journey to save the bees. Inspired by the patron saint of beekeepers, Saint Bernard, the project, named BEE Hope, seeks to create a brighter future for students and the bee population.
The inspiration for this project came from a collaboration with Maria Saracino, a local artist specializing in polymer clay. Under Saracino’s guidance, every student and staff member created a hexagonal tile featuring a symbol of Canada. These tiles will be placed around a model of St. Bernard and displayed in the school foyer. The purpose of this display is to serve as a reminder that, like the interconnected ecosystems of nature, we are all part of the same school community and can achieve great things when we work together.
During the mural project, the students learned about bees and realized that numerous pollinators are at risk of extinction. They thought about how their school could help the future of pollinator bees, considering their vital role in sustaining healthy ecosystems and ensuring food security. They came up with the idea of creating a pollinator meadow in the schoolyard, which will be designed, planted, and maintained by the students.
St. Bernard, an urban school, is enthusiastic about the opportunity this project provides students to connect with nature and care for the Earth. The ECO Club invited Marlene Souliere, an Indigenous Knowledge Keeper, to the school to help them with the project. She took them on an informative medicinal walk through a nearby forest and taught them about the relationship between the land and the people. Souliere helped the students compile a list of native pollinator plants that would support the bee population in the area.
The school hosted Shelly Candel, the Director of Bee Ambassadors, and Mark Cutts, a local beekeeper, who shared their expertise with students, deepening understanding of these hard-working insects and their vital role in biodiversity. Additionally, the school plans to incorporate various projects into the BEE Hope initiative, such as integrating bees and life systems into science learning, creating community posters, writing letters to local nurseries for plant donations, and producing eco-friendly beeswax candles to fund the creation of the meadow.
At St. Bernard, BEE Hope isn’t just about saving the bees; it’s about fostering a deeper connection to the environment and each other, inspiring hope for a brighter future.

Reflection & Celebration

Our pollinator meadow is being built the weekend of May 25-26. We will do school wide planting the week of May 27.

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