Economics 12 students at SMUS have seen their classroom work spark tangible change on campus. As part of their Participatory Democracy Project, students were tasked with proposing practical improvements for the school—ideas that could make a real difference. Now, some of those proposals are coming to life.
“I think a takeaway for me is that you can find any opportunity in your own environment,” reflected Lukas Wittman. “We can just look at everything surrounding us and take action and make it work.”
This week, solar panels were installed on the roof of Brown Hall—thanks to the work of Grade 11 students Mark Chou, Hayden Keens, Hiromu Ohara and Lukas Wittman. Their sustainability-focused pitch stood out in a competitive and collaborative process that asked students to blend research, budgeting, policy and community impact.
“It’s educationally fulfilling for the students to see their efforts come to life,” said Economics 12 teacher Graham Lilly. “Throughout the process, they connected with professionals on campus who offered great feedback. Not only are their proposals being realized, but they’re also contributing back to the community. It makes the students feel that their thoughtful ideas matter.”
Their proposal offered two options: install panels on Brown Hall capable of generating 25,000 kilowatt-hours per year, or invest in a larger-scale project on the roof of the Athletics Complex with a projected output of 161,000 kilowatt-hours per year. They highlighted several advantages, including reducing the school’s carbon footprint, aligning with the SMUS Strategic Plan, lowering electricity costs, and reinvesting savings into student programs and facilities. The team also noted the availability of government grants to offset installation costs and the potential to feed surplus energy back into the local grid.
After weeks of refining their idea, conducting research, and pitching to the school’s Senior Leadership Team—composed of directors from across academics and operations—the group’s project was approved. By the end of May, the solar panels will be fully installed, giving the students the rare and rewarding opportunity to see their work quite literally on the roof.
“It was so great to be able to pitch it to the leadership team of the school and see that the work we did in class can actually have an impact and be realized by the school,” added Mark Chou. “This project wasn’t just about sitting at a desk and doing work, it was about real world experience and we actually made it work. It’s happening.”
Ideas That Spark Real Change
A second student-led project has also been approved for implementation. Students Adison Grady, Nya Tsang, Charlie Anderson, Indigo Edgington and Renee Kwok proposed changes to the school’s Physical Education attire, aiming to make clothing options more inclusive and performance-oriented. Their research-driven proposal introduced women’s-specific clothing items, including shorts and track pants, as well as a unisex dry-fit T-shirt.
The group emphasized that better-fitting, functional athletic wear would promote accessibility, comfort and performance—while reflecting the needs of all students. Working with a local vendor, they also presented a viable plan for order sizes that could generate revenue for the school. Starting next fall, these new PE options will be available for students.
Other proposals presented to the Senior Leadership Team are not off the table for future implementation. One group outlined a plan to launch a loaner bike program to make cycling more accessible for boarding students. Another recommended adding vending machines to campus to ease long lines during short recess and lunch breaks. A third suggested an improved recycling program to better handle cartons and drink containers purchased at the Howard Café.
A group also proposed creating a rooftop garden on the Sun Centre. Titled A Garden That Grows With Us, their vision was for a space where students could engage with plant life throughout the seasons. The proposal highlighted educational opportunities, community involvement, cultural appreciation, sustainability, food security, ecosystem health and the creative use of under-utilized space.
Their idea aligns with a similar initiative already underway at the Junior School, where a rooftop garden is being installed to give younger students hands-on learning experiences in environmental stewardship. The parallel efforts show how sustainability is taking root across the entire SMUS campus—from the youngest learners to senior students.
Across the board, the projects share a common thread: students engaging deeply with real-world challenges and using their learning to shape the future of their own school.
