Students at Monsignor Edward Pace High School really got into the spirit of Earth Day through several activities at the school.
“Supported by the Marist Green Team Ecology Grant, the initiative was rooted in the principles of Laudato Si’ by [the late] Pope Francis,” Surella Rodriguez, director for alumni relations at Pace, wrote in a press release about events. “[A 2015 encyclical has] a focus on ecological education and sustainable lifestyles.”
The school’s Evergreen Club received the grant in 2025 from the Marist Brothers Ministry that supports Catholic education. The club hosted a planting activity outside of the cafeteria. Students received a compostable mini pot and selected their own seeds. Students, Rodriguez explained, "were invited to participate in a DIY experience, using eco-friendly materials."
While some students got their hands dirty, the Spartan Style Society presented special fashion shows featuring attire made entirely from sustainable materials.
“Each lunch period featured a different theme,” Rodriguez said.
Students walked a runway while sharing information on the origins of the materials used for their designs.
“My favorite part would be during the event, seeing all of the students come out and support,” said Emilie Alvarez, a junior and co-founder of the Evergreen Club.