Each year, the RCDS Sustainability program holds its Green Screen event, where a film about responsible environmental practices is screened. This year’s selection was The Box Truck Film: Building a Reuseful Home, a documentary about how two individuals transformed a 17-foot moving truck into a full-time 98-square foot home and mobile reuse education center. The 2024 Green Screen was held on February 8 and was also supported by the PA Sustainability Committee, led by Co-Chairs Emily Dorin P'26, P'31 & Marlyse Haward P'25, P'30, and Rye Sustainability Committee.

The documentary’s directors/producers/tiny home builders Alex Eaves and Deek Diedricksen were in attendance at the screening. Throughout the school day, they welcomed classes from all divisions to tour the Box Truck, and they discussed sustainable living practices with the students. Mr. Eaves and Mr. Diedricksen continued to offer tours for Green Screen attendees later in the evening, plus they engaged with the audience in a Q&A following the screening. Through the film and their travels throughout the U.S., the duo’s message was to underscore the practical benefits of reusing to reduce waste in order to help the planet, local community, and personal and financial well-being. 

In the AP Environmental Science class, Upper Schoolers have a unit where they study similar themes of sustainable practices. At the Green Screen zero waste reception, the class shared their models of sustainable farms and cities that they built in the Makerspace. Like the Box Truck, the students’ sustainable farms and cities were required to be built solely from repurposed items, like common recyclables, pieces from last year’s projects, and miscellaneous items found in the Makerspace. A few other AP Environmental students also encouraged Green Screen attendees to use salvaged materials to create 2D or 3D trash art projects for the community-wide RCDS Trash Art Show that will be on display for Earth Day.

“The Box Truck tiny home captivated everyone who stepped inside! Students, employees, parents, and members of the greater Rye community were so inspired by Alex and Deek’s visit. It sparked many conversations about sustainability, resourcefulness, and living with less. Alex and Deek’s creativity and humor made for an entertaining and informative day!” - Kerry Linderoth, Director of Sustainability