The Pracinha Initiative project began in 2018 with the adoption of two green areas located near the school via the Adopt-a-Green-Area program. The initiative spanned a period of three years after the Terms of Cooperation were signed with São Paulo City Hall, through the regional Butantã government and gave rise to the Clube da Pracinha (Green Area Club). The effort, spearheaded by the community engagement area and Primary and Secondary Division teachers, marked the school’s inaugural cross-divisions initiative. Primary Division students were encouraged to conceptualize enhancements to the green area in their Design Thinking class, while the Secondary Division students discussed spatial ideas, taking into consideration not only the perspectives of Avenues but also those of the surrounding community members.

The starting point involved listening to the residents. "With the intention of maintaining a dialogue with the community, we introduced this project to the residents. At first, they were apprehensive about how the green area would be used by the public. The space was very neglected, with the soil eroded by rainfall and the roots of the trees exposed. A lot of work was needed to revitalize this green area," explained Paulo Pita, Avenues director of operations.

In 2019, Primary Division students began the restoration of the benches in the Klaus Walter Zulauf square. In another action, inspired by the student movement led by Greta Thunberg, Fridays for the Future, the Pracinha Club organized a collab to plant native species in the José F. Nobre square with the help of Primary Division students. In 2020, the students shifted their focus to providing humanitarian aid to minimize the effects of the pandemic.

In 2022-23, after the school renewed its efforts to enhance Walter Klaus Zulauf square, the Operations team, in conjunction with teachers and students, worked to revitalize it by adding improvements in security, maintenance and landscaping.

"We aim to educate individuals who can look at the city and see solutions for its problems, a skill best acquired through practical experience in the real world. The students see themselves as agents of change, which is very powerful," stated Tatiana Abujamra, Avenues teacher and leader of the Pracinha Initiative in Primary Division.

In a 5th grade project, 50 native Brazilian fruit trees, ranging from 1.5 and 2 meters in height, were selected and strategically planted across the area at the end of the last school year. Tatiana recalled that even in the heavy rain that fell on the day the trees were to be planted, parents and students turned up in droves. "This was unprecedented; everyone braved the rain. I was soaking wet but the rain proved to be a blessing for our planting endeavor. It was great fun!"

Another project, carried out by the Guará kindergarten class, looked into how to make the square a more pleasant place for the whole community through the placement of signs to raise awareness among visitors, in addition to the planting of the fruit trees, and the building of a rope maze.

"Since this was a multidisciplinary project, many lessons were learned in different areas. The children were able to find their areas of interest and invest in them, developing research and planning skills, empathy and problem-solving. The children's response was very positive. They became very engaged and were able to pinpoint the problems that were found in the square, planning viable solutions that were in line with the reality of the place," said Tatiana Del Nero, Avenues teacher heading the initiative along with Ana Vitória Gregui.

This highlights how public spaces close to the school can become a teaching resource and an opportunity for students to see the world beyond their classroom walls.