This year, OBS Secondary celebrated Earth Day 2026 with an exciting week full of activities, competitions and discussions focused on sustainability and protecting our planet. The theme for this year’s Earth Day was “Our Power, Our Planet”, reminding us that even small actions can make a big difference when we work together.
During our Earth Day Assembly, students learned about the history of Earth Day, which has been celebrated since 1970 and now inspires over 1 billion people across 193 countries every year. We explored how everyday choices, such as reducing plastic use, recycling correctly, shopping locally and saying no to fast fashion, can help protect the environment.
We also discussed how different school subjects can contribute to sustainability. From writing persuasive pieces in English, to calculating food waste in Maths, researching pollution in Science, and creating inspiring artwork in Art and Music, every subject has the power to create change. Throughout the assembly, students were encouraged to think about simple habits they can include in their daily lives to help the planet. Some examples included:
- Using reusable bags and bottles
- Recycling carefully and correctly
- Picking up litter when outside
- Shopping locally and sustainably
- Avoiding fast fashion
- Trying more plant-based meals
- Planting flowers for pollinators
- Learning more about climate solutions
- Walk to school, use public transport or car share
The message of the assembly was clear: small actions, when done by many people, can have a huge impact.
Fair Trade Posters
As part of Geography, form 6 students explored the importance of Fair Trade and how it supports fair wages, ethical working conditions and more sustainable farming practices. Matteo and Gael presented their Fair-Trade posters during the assembly to help raise awareness about making responsible choices as consumers.
Fruta Feia & Sustainable Food
Students also learned about Fruta Feia, a Portuguese project that reduces food waste by selling “ugly” fruit and vegetables that are still perfectly healthy to eat. This aimed to help students understand that food does not need to look perfect to be valuable and delicious.
We also watched a video explaining how local restaurants and chefs are moving towards more sustainable practices by reducing waste/aiming for zero waste and using local ingredients.
Tutor Time Activity – Sustainable Recipes
Following the assembly, tutor groups took part in a creative sustainability challenge. Using ingredients from a “Fruta Feia Box,” students created their own original recipes while thinking about creativity, presentation, sustainability and how easy the recipe was to follow. Students came up with many imaginative ideas and showed that sustainable cooking can also be fun and creative.
Bake Sale
As part of Earth Week, students participated in our Bake Sale. Students baked a variety of delicious treats, and all money raised went towards supporting environmental charities, such as Palombar, a local Portuguese charity focused on conservation and development in Miranda do Douro. Thank you to everyone who baked, donated or bought something to support the event! Here is a link to Palombar’s website for more information: https://www.palombar.pt/pt/
Eco Art Competition
On thThe Eco Art Competition encouraged students to express environmental themes through creativity and art. The goal of the competition was to inspire awareness about protecting the planet while giving students the opportunity to share their ideas visually. The theme of the competition was connected to Earth Day’s theme: Our Power, Our Planet and Endangered Species.
Art & Creative Writing Competition Winners
A huge congratulations to all students who participated in the Earth Day competitions this year. We were extremely impressed by the creativity, effort and thoughtful environmental messages shown in all entries.
Creative Writing Winners
- Anastasia Form 6
- Lara Form 7
Art Competition Winners
- Luisa and Teresa Form 7
- Alba Form 6
Here is a wonderful Earth Day poem written by our very own Alba, Form 6 which she shared during the assembly.
Our Power, Our Planet
Our earth, our power, our planet
Through the swinging trees and swaying vines,
Through the soaring grasslands, meet the world above.
Our earth, our power, our planet.
Fumes fill the air, clouds crying fumes of toxic dust.
Stars invisible in the clear sky, as once they shone brighter than the sun.
Our earth, our power, our planet.
Birds chirp and tweet in the early morning breeze.
Monkeys screech as they hear the sounds of deafening saws.
They feel the need to run, escape the sounds of crashing trees.
Our earth, our power, our planet.
The sea is calm, the tide is low.
Poisoned fish float about on the surface of the water.
Whales echo and moan, their hearts stabbed by strips of plastic.
Little blobs of poisonous, crystalline flesh lay on the dry damp sand.
Our earth, our power, our planet.
Rubbish lies scattered on the ground, slowly floating with the rapid wind force. Through the swinging trees and swaying vines is the reality of the world we live in, a polluted sanctuary of carelessness.
And maybe one day we will learn, Our earth, our power, our planet,
The Eco Committee
The Eco Committee is a group of students working together to make OBS a more sustainable and environmentally friendly school community.
Our aims include:
- Raising awareness about environmental issues
- Organising sustainability events and activities
- Encouraging recycling and reducing waste
- Helping students make environmentally friendly choices
The Eco-committee is also proud to say that we raised €300 for Palombar and we couldn’t have done it without everyone’s participation. Together, we truly can make a difference for our planet.
