Commitment To The Earth

General Principles

The following questions will guide and inform our practices and decision-making, and in doing so will encourage, engage, empower, and educate our students to respect, care for, and protect the Earth and its inhabitants.

Will this decision foster respect for the Earth, and for our place in its delicate, interconnected web?
Will this decision promote natural resource and energy conservation, lessen our dependence on fossil fuels, and encourage the use of renewable energy?
Will this decision encourage the Three R's of Recycling -- Reduce, Reuse, Recycle, promote the purchase and use of recycled materials (paper, wood, carpeting, etc.), and limit waste and pollution?
Will this decision encourage the careful stewardship of our natural resources (water, soil, land, air, biodiversity)?

Green Facility

Our school will take steps towards sustainable living in its facilities and daily operations. Some of the ways we plan to accomplish this are by:

Using low energy light bulbs in all classrooms, corridors and bathrooms.
Having motion sensors installed in some of the halls and bathrooms to ensure energy conservation by turning off unused lights.
Not spraying pesticides on our land.
Using the most energy and fuel efficient, low emission vehicles in our facilities department for all school vehicles.
Using green cleaning products and recycled paper goods for all of our housekeeping needs.
Corresponding via email as much as possible in order to reduce paper use.
Using 100% recycled paper stock as the standard for all school publications and copiers.
Purchasing only high efficiency appliances.
Using paints and carpeting with low volatile organic compounds (VOC’s).
Buying electricity from clean resources when possible.
Using sustainable and renewable materials for all furnishings.
Using green architecture and design when building our own space.

Green Curriculum

Curriculum will include learning about ecosystems, and will foster the understanding that how we treat the Earth is directly related to the health of our environment.
Students will be encouraged to run and maintain their own organic garden, giving them the opportunity to see where their food comes from and watching the process from seed to mouth.
Students will explore how our decisions of what we eat impact our choices in regards to sustainability, health, ecosystem and economics.
Students will regularly engage in Earth-friendly activities like tree-planting, helping with recycling and composting, raising awareness about environmental issues among their peers, and brainstorming energy saving initiatives.

Sustainable Cafeteria (organic/vegan) *

We will develop a relationship with local organic farms, farmers and organizations.
The kitchen will buy flatware and dishes that will be washed and reused for each meal. If there is a need for disposable, we will buy biodegradable supplies which can be composted in own organic garden after use.
Our cafeteria will try to ensure that most of the school's meals will be grown or produced within 100 miles from the school.
We will compost kitchen scraps.
We will implement a no waste policy for bagged lunches
There will be a vegan option at all meals.
* For the first year (or more), we will not be running a cafeteria - students will bring their own lunches.