We are delighted to share some wonderful news with our school community! For the second consecutive year, Colegio Concepción has been awarded first place in the school projects competition at the 69th Exhibition of Flowers and Plants, organised by the Club de Jardines de Concepción.
This achievement is particularly meaningful as it recognises the continued development of Our Native Flora Trail, an institutional project dedicated to celebrating, protecting, and promoting the native biodiversity found within our school grounds. After receiving first place at last year’s 68th edition, our students returned with a fresh proposal that demonstrated how an ongoing environmental initiative can continue to inspire new ideas.
This year’s winning project brought a little piece of our native flora trail directly to the exhibition. Through the creation of terrariums featuring native plant species from the school grounds, students transformed their knowledge of local biodiversity into miniature natural environments. These creations offered visitors a closer look at the richness of our surroundings while encouraging reflection on the importance of preserving native plants and ecosystems.
Developed through the collaboration of the ICT Workshop and the Ecobrigade, the project was guided by Mr. Marcos Riveros Illanes, Ms. Iowana Maltés, and Ms. María Patricia Salazar. Their interdisciplinary work has allowed students to explore environmental conservation through research, creativity, technology, and English communication, connecting different areas of learning around a shared purpose.
We would also like to recognise the valuable contribution of Ms. María Patricia Salazar, whose longstanding involvement in this exhibition has helped maintain and strengthen Colegio Concepción’s participation over the years. Her experience, dedication, and guidance have been an important part of encouraging students to share their environmental projects with the wider community.
What makes this second consecutive award especially rewarding is the opportunity to see how Our Native Flora Trail continues to grow and evolve. What began as an initiative to preserve and restore native vegetation around our school’s hill has developed into a broader educational project, inspiring activities that encourage students to discover and appreciate the natural heritage surrounding them.
Last year, our exhibition highlighted the native species growing along the trail and the different conservation activities developed by our students. This year, the terrariums offered a new way to share that same natural heritage, showing that sustainability education can take many forms and that even familiar surroundings can inspire entirely new learning experiences.
The experience does not end with the exhibition or the award. Following its presentation at the event, our award-winning display has now been installed in the school’s main hall, allowing students, teachers, families, and visitors to appreciate the terrariums and discover more about the native flora found within our own grounds. By bringing the exhibition back to Colegio Concepción, the project continues to encourage curiosity, environmental awareness, and a sense of connection with the natural surroundings we share.
For our school, receiving first place two years in a row is more than an achievement in a competition. It is an encouraging recognition of the commitment, creativity, and collaborative effort behind a project that continues to develop year after year. We warmly congratulate all the students, teachers, and collaborators involved in this wonderful achievement. Their dedication reminds us that meaningful environmental education begins with learning to appreciate and care for the nature closest to us.
