Environmental Sustainability

Caring for Our School Environment

In cross-graded teams led by seniors, faculty and students dedicate 10 minutes twice a week to caring for our campus. This program promotes responsibility, leadership, and environmental awareness while building a sense of community and pride.

Core benefits:

• Develops Leadership: Senior-led activities empower older students to mentor younger peers.

• Strengthens Community: Collaborative efforts deepen bonds between faculty and students while fostering connections among students across all grade levels.

• Promotes Environmental Responsibility: Regular stewardship of our campus cultivates respect for the environment and reinforces sustainable practices.

Sustainability Across the Curriculum

Environmental sustainability is seamlessly woven into learning across subject areas, encouraging students to explore and act on sustainability issues from multiple perspectives.

Examples of projects and lessons:

• Ceramics: Students create endangered animal sculptures, raising awareness of biodiversity.

• Language Classes: Students explore sustainability concepts and vocabulary in a global context.

• Visual Arts: Students use sustainable materials and create works reflecting environmental themes.

• Humanities: Students investigate the environmental and human impacts of significant world events.

Climate Action Team

Our student-led Climate Action Team drives sustainability efforts by reducing waste, improving efficiency, and educating the school community about environmental responsibility. Some Climate Action Team projects include:

• School-wide clothing exchanges

• Calculating NWS’s Carbon emissions annually

• Letter writing campaigns to promote civic engagement

Farm and Garden: Hands-On Learning and Leadership

Our farm and garden serves as an outdoor classroom, offering students opportunities for experiential learning, creative expression, and leadership development.

Examples of engagement:

• Advisories and grade-level meetings dedicate time to maintaining the garden.

• Visual arts classes draw inspiration from the garden for creative projects.

• Science classes conduct experiments in the garden, integrating classroom learning.

• Student farm and garden managers oversee the space and guide peers in learning

Outdoor Program: Exploring the Pacific Northwest

Through faculty-guided outdoor trips, students connect with the natural beauty of the Pacific Northwest, fostering a sense of adventure and appreciation for the environment.

Past trips include:

• Rock climbing

• Backpacking

• Geocaching

• Snow shelter building

• Cross-country skiing

Service Learning: Thinking Locally, Acting Globally

In the Service Learning Program, we put our values into action. Students spend a year learning deeply about the social and environmental factors affecting critical resources and partner with community organizations to take meaningful action. Through the program students cultivate a mindset of responsibility for themselves, their community, and the world at large and learn that they have individual and collective impact, at every age.