Sustainability@RGS

The RGS Green Strategic Plan maps out a holistic and whole-of-school effort to support Singapore’s national agenda on sustainable development. It aims to make environmental sustainability a key theme through the 4Cs: Campus; Curriculum; Culture and Community (e.g. partnerships beyond school.)

Butterfly Garden

As part of a green initiative by the RGS Cogitare Club (a Mathematics, Science and Environmental CCA in RGS), a Butterfly Garden was officially launched to:

Create a colourful and green space for staff and students alike to learn about and enjoy nature
Increase awareness of green spaces in RGS
Protect butterflies, bees and other pollinators (these species, while vulnerable, are essential in the reproduction of many flowering plants, preserving the genetic diversity of the garden by allowing natural selection to continue to take place)

Launch of the RGS Butterfly Garden

As part of a green initiative by the RGS Cogitare Club (a Mathematics, Science and Environmental CCA in RGS), a Butterfly Garden was officially launched on 23 April 2021!

Earth Week

Earth Week is an annual school event in RGS planned by Cogitare Club for our students. An exciting lineup of events take place during the week to promote awareness of our changing climate, food sustainability and more.

Biodiversity trail

As part of Earth Week 2022, the RGS Cogitare Club launched a biodiversity trail that features the school’s wide variety of biodiversity, with interactive features and scenic spots.

🎵 A Musical Tribute to Earth Week

Indulge in this musical offering to Earth Week with Einsame Blumen (Lonely Flowers) by the Romantic composer Robert Schumann. A musical piece performed Chloe Saw (Class of 2022)

Our Path to a Greener Tomorrow

Themed “Our Path to a Greener Tomorrow”, Earth Week 2024 featured a presentation by environmentalist Ms Kong Man Jing and a special workshop, organised in collaboration with students from Guanyang Secondary School.

Rooftop Edible Garden

More than just a garden, our rooftop Edible Garden serves as an educational hub for sustainable planting and growth, aiming to nurture 'citizen farmers' among our staff and students.

This green space introduces 'Farm to Table' and 'Direct Source' concepts, encouraging a mindful approach to food. It also sparks a ripple effect, with students and staff becoming ambassadors of sustainability, inspiring families and friends to create edible gardens across the island.

The Environmental Sustainability Committee (ESC), which oversees the garden, enlisted the support of House teachers and student leaders for activities such as weeding, maintenance, and harvesting, with guidance from Edible Garden City. Each House was allocated a garden plot to foster House spirit, with the harvest donated to canteen stallholders and F&N teachers, and available for staff to take home.

The ESC has also collaborated with the Humanities and Science departments to integrate sustainability concepts and use the garden as a learning space.

With the new involvement of our Year 1 classes, students will develop a deeper understanding and commitment to becoming responsible citizens, contributing to a greener and more sustainable environment.

Launch of Rooftop Garden

As we celebrated our 144th Founder’s Day, we marked the occasion with the launch of our Rooftop Edible Garden, sponsored by the Tanoto Foundation. Created as an educational hub for sustainable planting and growth, it aims to nurture 'citizen farmers' among RGS staff and students.

Garden Tour

Our String Ensemble CCA hosted 35 seniors from Fei Yue Active Ageing Centre (Hougang Dewcourt) at our Braddell Campus. The visit ended with a leisurely school tour, where they explored our Edible Garden, Galleria, and the iconic Raffles Tree.

Edible Garden

The RGS Edible Rooftop Garden is a wonderful initiative by Mrs Carmee Lim and the RGS Alumni. It symbolises our commitment to sustainability as well as a living classroom fostering closer connection to nature for our girls.

Rafflesian Cook-off

With the theme Celebrating Singapore Heritage Through Heartfelt Recipes, RGSA organised a Cook-off where participants had to incorporate a key ingredient from our Rooftop Garden. These included a bounty of locally grown crops, including lemongrass, roselle, and laksa leaf.

Queenstown Kakis

Our students distributed fresh produce and vegetables from our Garden to the community through Queenstown Kakis.

Chinese Dumplings

As part of the MT Fortnight activities, our Chinese Language teacher, Mdm Mu Jun, taught students how to make dumplings using ingredients from our garden.

Bishan Green Hub

We shared some of our garden produce with the community fridge at Bishan Green Hub, supporting sustainability and community care.

International Coastal Cleanup Singapore (ICCS)

RGS has been part of the International Coastal Cleanup Singapore (ICCS) since its inception in 1992 and continues to do so. Our students contribute by collecting, analysing, and disposing of beach litter, playing a role in environmental conservation and helping to keep our beaches litter-free. Parent volunteers also accompanied their daughters and actively participated in the event.

Nature Society Singapore (NSS) Every Singaporean a Naturalist’ (ESN)

NSS ESN Biodiversity Race 2023

Organised by Nature Society Singapore (NSS), the annual Biodiversity Race is part of NSS’ Every Singaporean A Naturalist (ESN) programme. The ESN programme aims to equip young citizen scientists with the knowledge and skills to identify and monitor our urban biodiversity.

NSS ESN Biodiversity Race 2024

Students from TheWildSide, Cogitaire, and other passionate RGS girls showcased their skills in the 3rd NSS ESN Biodiversity Race on 29 May. The event featured 40 teams from 12 primary and secondary schools competing across six locations island-wide.

NSS Teacher Training Workshop in RGS

RGS hosted the Nature Society Singapore (NSS) annual teacher training workshop from the 24 - 25 November 2022. The 47 participants consisted of teachers from pre-schools, primary schools, secondary schools and international schools.

NSS ESN 3rd Sypmosium 2024

RGS hosted the NSS ESN Annual Symposium, a platform for sharing experiences, findings, and recognising the achievements of schools, students, and teachers. Participants engaged in pre-symposium activities, including booths hosted by our students.

Transect

RGS is home to a rich diversity of bird species, with regular bird transects conducted around campus to observe and document avian life. These transects provide valuable insights into local biodiversity and foster a deeper appreciation for nature among students and staff.

Recent observations have recorded fascinating bird species, including the vibrant Ornate Sunbird, the striking Collared Kingfisher, and the majestic Oriental Pied Hornbill. These sightings highlight the ecological richness of our green spaces and the importance of conservation efforts within our urban environment.

Tree Planting

Our Tree planting initiatives have raised awareness about the critical role that trees play in reducing carbon emissions and enhancing biodiversity within school environments.

Planting of Cacao Trees @ RGS

As part of RGS Environmental Sustainability efforts, five cacao trees were planted along the strip of land between our school field and Braddell Heights. Ms Janice Wong sponsored a total of 20 cacao trees across the campus, with support from the RGS Alumnae (RGSA).

Trees for RGS Project

On 17 October 2024, our SVIA team, Project Carb0n, organised a tree planting session. This initiative aimed to raise awareness about the critical role that trees play in reducing carbon emissions and enhancing biodiversity within school environments.

Jane Goodall Institute (Singapore) Roots & Shoots Youth Summit

As part of her tour of Singapore, Dr Jane Goodall visited RGS and generously donated eight trees, which were planted on the school premises.

NParks tree planting

57 students from Project Carb0n participated in an NParks tree planting session, planting around 50 trees along Ang Mo Kio Street 32.

Solar Energy

In December 2024, RGS completed the installation of solar panels on our campus roofs, allowing us to harness renewable energy and cover a significant portion of our daytime electricity needs. Any excess energy generated is exported back to the national power grid, contributing to the nation's clean energy efforts.

Energy generation and usage can be monitored through a Solar Dashboard, supporting sustainability efforts within our school community.