Mission and values
Mission statement
Fundamental British values
The American School in London is an independent, college-preparatory, preK-12 day school, providing an exceptional American education to an international student body in the heart of London. Innovation and individuality are celebrated, and outstanding academic success is applauded. We value diversity of thought and we treat others the way we expect to be treated. We express mutual tolerance for those with different faiths and beliefs. Students thrive amid high expectations and the joy of authentic learning experiences. As citizens of a vibrant democracy we fulfill our obligations to ourselves and to others. Through the lens of intercultural competency, we inspire students to engage with others across lines of difference in a changing world.
Core values
Portrait of a Learner
Thinker
We use critical and creative thinking skills to analyze ideas and problems.
We use inquiry to understand important concepts and questions.
Explorer
We value a sense of wonder and are curious about the world.
We cultivate our interests and strengths
We find passion and purpose in our work.
Collaborator
We engage purposefully with others to support common goals.
We understand and respect diverse approaches.
Innovator
We seek creative solutions to real-life problems.
We value mistakes as learning opportunities.
Communicator
We listen, speak and write effectively.
We communicate clearly with others through dialogue and participation.
We value the ability to do so in multiple languages.
We attend to the perspectives of other individuals and groups.
Well-being
We seek a balance of mind, body and spirit as we grow.
We are conscious of our health in the choices we make.
Respect
We treat others the way we expect to be treated.
We appreciate our own cultures and personal histories.
We value diversity of thought and experience.
Responsibility
We take ownership of our words, actions and learning.
We fulfill our obligations to ourselves and to others.
Kindness
We act with compassion.
We help others.
Integrity
We are honest.
We work hard.
We make the right choice even when no one is watching.
Courage to Act
We stretch and grow by taking risks.
We are resourceful in the face of challenges and change.
We have the courage to speak up for ourselves and for others.
We take positive action to make our community and world a better place.
Sustainability
ASL Sustainability Statement
10 December 2021
The American School in London is committed to sustainability and continuously improving environmental performance. ASL has a duty to provide its students with the knowledge and skills to look after the planet and to manage its resources wisely. Additionally, we believe in growth and change that is sustainable, economically responsible and beneficial to our community and neighborhood.
ASL assesses sustainability initiatives by considering their social, economic and environmental benefits. This approach can reveal interconnected advantages and value. For example, supporting student sustainability projects increases community engagement and reveals the value of individual awareness and choices. Through an annual report and dashboard, we will assess historical data and ongoing adjustments of sustainability initiatives.
Social initiative examples |
Soc |
Econ | Env |
Establish cross-divisional eco committee, with student participation | ✓ | ✓ | |
Support student-led ecology projects and community clubs | ✓ | ✓ | |
Apply for a Green Flag award from the UK Eco-Schools organization and support the student-led reports, projects and assessments | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
Integrate environmental studies and awareness into the curriculum, where appropriate | ✓ | ✓ | |
Increase community awareness of recently completed and upcoming sustainability projects and initiatives | ✓ |
Economic initiative examples |
Soc |
Econ | Env |
Minimize waste, fuel and electricity use by evaluating operations and equipment and ensuring they are as efficient as possible |
|
✓ | ✓ |
Design and implement sustainable infrastructure objectives that self-fund over time when renovating or creating new facilities |
✓ | ✓ | |
Minimize our CO2 emissions by monitoring and improving our travel choices, transport fleet and equipment that produces emissions |
✓ | ✓ | |
Investigate programs to measure and help publicize the energy use, greenhouse gas emissions and carbon footprint generated by school operations and activities |
✓ |
✓ |
✓ |
Environmental initiative examples |
Soc |
Econ | Env |
Achieve a Very Good BREEAM rating for the new Community Arts Building |
✓ | ✓ |
✓ |
Build an eco classroom at Canons Park that supports lower school environmental curricular goals |
✓ |
✓ |
|
Actively promote recycling both internally and among our community and suppliers | ✓ | ✓ | |
Contribute food waste to the Westminster biomass energy initiative | ✓ | ✓ | |
Meet or exceed all environmental legislation that relates to the School and comply with national best practices | ✓ | ✓ |
Recent accomplishments:
- Two Green Flags have been awarded to ASL
- ASL has signed a contract for 100% renewable electrical energy for the Waverley Place campus until September 2022
- 90% of fluorescent lighting on campus has been replaced with LED lighting, with a goal of 100% replacement by 2023
- Electricity generating solar panels have been installed on the pavilion at Canons Park
- Food waste is collected by Westminster for biomass energy production
- 15 hydration stations have saved over 400,000 plastic bottles from being created and used since their installation, at a rate of 10,000 bottles saved per year. We are installing additional stations at a rate of three per year as old drinking fountain are replaced.
Contact
Jim Henderickx, Director of Operations
- Student initiatives
- Construction, refurbishment and travel
- Waste and recycling
- Catering and food service
Student initiatives
Mission:
Our mission is to address the global environmental crisis by raising awareness and taking action, and to reduce ASL’s ecological footprint by implementing environmentally-friendly initiatives throughout the community.
Vision:
We envision ASL as an environmental leader whose members share an eco-friendly mindset and are actively creating and advocating for a more sustainable community and world.
Student organizations
ASL has three student organizations that aim to create a greener community: the high school Sustainability Council, the middle school Eco-committee, and the lower school Change Makers. The three groups collaborate on a number of all-school projects, including Earth Hour and Earth Week, and are working toward earning the Green Flag award from Eco-schools.
The Sustainability Council (SusCo) mission is “to reduce ASL’s ecological footprint by raising awareness in the community and implementing environmentally friendly initiatives.” Student representatives meet weekly to plan monthly events, Earth Week and various initiatives to reduce ASL’s ecological footprint. They work with parents, faculty and staff to run the annual Swap, conduct litter walks, and bring guest speakers to ASL. In 2017, SusCo sponsored a panel of London sustainable fashion designers followed by an evening screening of The True Cost sparking conversation throughout the School. In 2018, Hendrikus van Hensbergen and Laura Kravac from Action for Conservation spoke to middle and high school students about the power of the student voice during Earth Week.
In addition to working on projects with other divisions, the middle school Eco-committee has been focusing on waste in the Commons, from the school’s cafeteria. Following discussions with administration, the Commons now has an improved system for recycling and composting food waste. During the spring, the Eco-committee hosted a healthy living week to promote an awareness of our daily impact on individual health and the environmental health of our community. Students also worked with SusCo to bring recycling to last year’s Global Festival.
In the Lower School, Change Makers and Wild are two popular after-school activity options for students. Students in the Change Makers group are developing sustainable mindsets by conducting an environmental review of ASL and initiating activities such as litter walks. Through unstructured, outdoor play on Hampstead Heath, Wild helps to cultivate a connection to and appreciation of nature in students. In addition to these initiatives, many classes in the Lower School have a student eco warrior to ensure that everyone recycles and turns off lights.
Construction, refurbishment and travel
The American School in London’s maintenance and facilities team regularly review best practices in sustainability. During the planning stages of any new project, we consider:
- Conservation of energy and water
- Avoiding the use of pollutants and potential pollutants
- Taking steps to minimize the production of waste
- Protecting plants and wildlife
- Meeting local needs while respecting people and their environment
Electricity
Employees are asked to switch off lights and/or equipment when not needed. Evening housekeepers turn off lights once finished for the night. Other guidelines include:
- Reducing energy consumption by disabling screensavers (use dimming function or turn screen off).
- Turn down monitor brightness setting.
- Leave the lights off during the day if there is enough natural light.
- Turn off equipment when not in use.
- Keep doors and windows in air conditioned rooms closed when the air conditioning is on. Refrain from covering thermostats or having a heat source next to the thermostat.
Lighting
Our team is in the process of replacing light systems with energy efficient LEDs on campus.
Switching off
During holidays or school closures, a device and equipment shutdown reminder is distributed to employees.
Travel
The American School in London works closely with the City of Westminster to encourage our employees and students to reduce our carbon footprint by following the below travel hierarchy;
- Walking
- Cycling and the cycle-to-work scheme (storage facilities are available on campus)
- TFL (including the season ticket loan scheme)
- School bus
- Car pool
- Private car
Waste and recycling
Waste |
Disposal |
Bin type |
Collected by |
Cardboard |
Dry mixed recycling |
Green bin |
Westminster / Veolia |
Paper |
Dry mixed recycling |
Green bin |
Westminster / Veolia |
Plastic bottles |
Dry mixed recycling |
Green bin |
Westminster / Veolia |
Malleable plastics |
General waste |
Black bin |
Westminster / Veolia |
Plastic bags |
General waste |
Black bin |
Westminster / Veolia |
Cans and small metal pieces |
Dry mixed recycling |
Green bin |
Westminster / Veolia |
Food waste (kitchen and Commons only) |
Food waste |
Clear bin |
Westminster / Veolia |
Food waste (School Wide) |
General waste |
Black bin |
Westminster / Veolia |
Glass |
Dry mixed recycling |
Green bin |
Westminster / Veolia |
Broken glass |
General waste* |
Black bin |
Westminster / Veolia |
Exterior general waste |
General waste |
Clear bin |
Westminster / Veolia |
Wood (small pieces) |
General waste |
Black bin |
Westminster / Veolia |
Used Pens |
Side pods on Nexus bins |
Nexus |
Charles Dickens Primary School* |
Batteries |
Side pods on Nexus bins |
Nexus |
Currently unavailable |
Printer Toners and Cartridges |
Supplied boxes |
Special bins located near printers |
Clover Environmental Solutions |
Books |
Charity |
Boxes |
School aid |
Clothing / textiles |
Charity |
Black bags or boxes |
Charity or delivered |
Electrical waste |
Stored in the boiler room |
None, picked up upon request |
Light Brother |
WEE Waset |
Stored in the boiler room |
None, picked up upon request |
Edmonton Electrical |
Wood (large volumes) |
Stored outside gym foyer |
None, picked up upon request |
Woodsie waste |
Old (broken) furniture |
Stored outside gym foyer |
None, picked up upon request |
Woodsie waste |
Large heavy metal |
Stored outside gym foyer |
None, picked up upon request |
Woodsie waste |
The American School in London is based in Westminster. Westminster City Council and Veolia are our waste collection providers.
Catering and food service
Environmental and sustainability objectives
To reduce the School’s carbon footprint, pollution emissions and minimize energy ASL’s caterers will be required, where possible, to purchase produce from local or regional sources within the UK and promote seasonal produce. The caterers will be expected to select suppliers with a commitment to sustainability, in particular, suppliers seeking to reduce wasteful packaging.
ASL’s caterers will also be required to monitor and reduce, where possible, energy consumption in their cooking processes. They will be expected to continuously improve environmental performance based on targets and objectives by seeking to reduce packaging required in selling products and by ensuring that all such packaging and disposables are from a sustainable source.
ASL’s caterers will also be required to monitor and reduce, where possible, the waste generated by their food processes and to assist ASL in disposing of all waste in an environmentally appropriate way.
Where products cannot be sourced locally, ASL’s suppliers are required to be proactive in maintaining a culture of responsible environmental awareness and global citizenship through the purchase of produce independently accredited in high standards of sustainability and fair trade.
ASL’s caterers will be expected to publish and monitor their own Corporate Social Responsibility goals.