Westpine middle school

10 feet above sea level

On March 1, 2024, Westpine Middle School became one of the participating schools in Broward County to join the ‘Underwater: Broward’ initiative. With its campus sitting at just 10 feet above sea level, the school now hosts a powerful elevation mural by artist Xavier Cortada, transforming a simple number into a conversation starter and a call to action for climate awareness.

As a school dedicated to shaping students equipped with critical thinking, problem-solving, and adaptability skills to be prepared for a variety of academic and life challenges, Westpine Middle was ideally positioned for this climate education initiative. The Panthers’ core values of inclusive collaboration, accountability, and nurturing development aligned perfectly with the Underwater project’s mission to foster environmental awareness and community engagement.

Interactive Climate Assembly

The Cortada Foundation led a dynamic, school-wide assembly where students explored how sea level rise is impacting their community—and how they can take action. During the session, students created personalized Underwater elevation yard signs, each one reflecting the elevation of their own home and helping spark critical conversations with friends, families, and neighbors.

Activating Awareness

To further support student participation and excitement, we distributed:

  • Underwater T-shirts to students who asked or answered questions during the assembly

  • “HELLO my elevation is” stickers for students to personalize and wear proudly

  • Elevation Cards with QR codes linking to tools for finding home elevation and learning more about sea level rise

Westpine Middle School students demonstrated curiosity, creativity, and leadership—showing that with the right tools, today’s youth can shape tomorrow’s climate solutions. Their participation adds another vital chapter in the growing Underwater Project story across South Florida schools.