Sustainability Program

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Education for Sustainability Jaimie Cloud, a nationally recognized expert in Education for Sustainability (EfS), conducted a two-day audit of Lovett’s sustainability program January 29–30, 2015, with a special focus on determining how well Lovett is educating its students for sustainability. Ms. Cloud held a series of focus group discussions and wrote a report which was shared with administrators and sustainability leaders. Some of her key conclusions: Much work has been done to move cultural norms and practices related to the physical plant, grounds, and operations and some teachers have developed exemplary units, courses, and/or lessons that can be shared as exemplars. There is no shared understanding of what sustainability/Education for Sustainability are. There is readiness among the faculty to integrate all of the strategic initiatives in the service of educating for a healthy and sustainable future. The school community can make authentic contributions to sustainability through formal learning opportunities, service learning and project based learning embedded in curriculum, and instruction at Lovett, and through informal activities on and off campus. The faculty requested professional development and coaching opportunities that help them understand what sustainability and education for sustainability are, and that help them integrate EfS, The Vision for Learning, and the other strategic initiatives into their curriculum and instruction in rich and meaningful ways. A significant number would like to begin work soon. We need a short- and long-term implementation plan that puts in place a system to integrate and diffuse The Vision for Learning, EfS, and the other strategic initiatives throughout the system vertically and laterally in a way that is documented, shared and iterated and improved over time. EfS Benchmarks should be adopted, clearly articulated, taught, assessed, and understood by administrators, teachers and students. Time needs to be built in to plan, think, design, and/or innovate curriculum, design and calibrate assessments, have critical conversations, analyze student work for evidence, etc. EfS professional development and coaching must be ongoing for the next 3-5 years (at least) if we want to produce evidence of EfS in the students. Ms. Cloud conducted a special EfS workshop for Lovett administrators on August 2, and a workshop for about 30 teachers August 3–4. In addition, Sandra Switzer, Joe DeLuca, Bob Amar, and Diane Husmann attended the Cloud Institute Design Studio in New York City July 26–31. During the 2015–16 school year, Sandra and Joe will be leading EfS professional development cohorts with 24 Middle and Upper School teachers and will be working on integrating sustainability education more effectively into Lovett’s curriculum.
Green Team & Student Leadership Accomplishments One of the most gratifying and important accomplishments of the 2014-15 school year was a significant increase in the number of students participating in Green Team activities and other student led sustainability projects. Sandra Switzer, Joe DeLuca, Sarah Spiers, and Mallorie Fonseca helped guide Green Team and Culture Crew activities in their respective divisions. Upper School Green Team Highlights Working with Alison Thomas, of Keep My Planet Green, to offset carbon emissions from 158 cars. Upper School Green Team members engaged in five lunch meetings with Ms. Thomas, who helped them develop a fundraising strategy and trained Green Team members in marketing and communications. Raising $1,500 for solar panels on campus, including $1,000 earned by Upper School Green Team having the largest number of volunteers for the annual Parents Night Out Service Board Fundraiser. Organizing the annual January e-waste drive which collected a total of 2,500 pounds of electronic waste which was properly recycled. In addition, 74 cell phones, 13 laptop computers, 19 ink jets, and 15 digital/video cameras were collected and redeemed for $178.50. Organizing Earth Week festivities. Middle School Green Team Highlights Weighing pre-consumer and post-consumer waste in the kitchen and dining hall. This contributed vital information to the calculation of Lovett’s Diversion Rate. Making morning educational announcements about food and creating a sustainability trivia contests in preparation for Earth Week. Increased Middle School participation in the Middle School Green Team plants vertical garden. e-waste drive. Presenting a Middle School assembly about composting and collaborating with Keep My Planet Green to offset carbon emissions from cars. Participating in a webinar with the founder of TerraCycling.
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Sustainability Program

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