Sustainability

The RCDS campus has three vegetable gardens, one for each division, as well as multiple pollinator gardens. Throughout their education at RCDS, students of all ages have the opportunity to get involved in various gardening activities both inside and outside of the classroom. Having a comprehensive garden education program at RCDS gives our students an understanding of where their food comes from so they can make informed choices.
 

RCDS has five pollinator gardens, which support the ecosystem by enabling the future growth of future fruits and vegetables—80% of the world’s crop plants that yield food and plant-based industrial products depend on biotic pollinators, and in the U.S., pollinators support almost all fruit and grain crops. For students, pollinator gardens provide engaging interdisciplinary lessons covering botany, biology, ecology, environmental science, and cultural history.

• No Idling Policy
• LED Lighting
• Electric Car Charging Station
• Water Bottle Filling Station
• Single Stream Recycling
• The Pinkham Building roof is fitted with a 23 kW solar panel system. One of the many benefits of the solar panels is that teachers are able to use the data acquisition system in class. Monitor the power production below.
   

• Upper School Environmental Club
• Garden Club
• Lower School Sustainability Club
• Middle School Green Team
   

America Recycles Day, a nationally recognized day dedicated to promoting and celebrating recycling, kicks off the annual RCDS recycling challenge! The goal of the challenge is to ensure all divisions are recycling properly under single stream guidelines. Throughout the challenge, students collect data on recycling bins across campus. 
 

Participating in Earth Day, a global celebration of the planet and environmental protection, RCDS hosts an annual fair that includes student performances, displays of sustainability-related curricular projects, games, club-led activities, and community art projects. This community-building event spreads awareness about sustainability and environmental action, and encourages all to be engaged, active stewards of the planet.

RCDS cafeterias feature trayless dining, composting, recyclable napkins, and washable/reusable silverware.

RCDS is in the process to extend the Zero Waste Cafeteria program into the classrooms during snack, beginning with a pilot program in the Kindergarten classes. 

The Environmental and Wellness Committee promotes sustainability and wellness at RCDS and at home, working with the School’s Director of Health and Wellness and Director of Sustainability. The committee organizes events throughout the year, which have included discussions on solar energy, organic gardening, composting, raising chickens, using non-toxic home care products, healthy eating, qi gong, and acupuncture, to name a few.
 

During earth week, RCDS hosts a screening of a film related to in collaboration with the Rye Sustainability Committee and the Parents Association Environmental and Wellness Committee. Green Screen events are open to the public and accompanied guest speakers or expert panels. 
 

Campus Landscaping

• Investigating the possibility of a more formal Outdoor Classroom
• Investigating the possibility of a Green Roof or a Green Wall
• Working with the Master Planning team to identify and protect species on the newly acquired Thruway Property

Campus-wide Energy Reduction/Savings

• Considering proposal to convert outdoor lighting to LED bulbs.    
• Investigating a carpool incentive program, including the possibility of carpool parking spaces
• Looking into the possibility of expanding motion sensors into all classrooms, offices, bathrooms, etc. 

Data Collection

• Considering adopting a campus sustainability tool to measure and track campus data
• Collaborating with Sodexo to help with computing carbon footprint of the RCDS campus