Country School Celebrates Earth Day, Promotes Sustainability

New Canaan Country School has been celebrating Earth Day all month long with a variety of initiatives that encourage environmental sustainability on campus and in the community at-large. Some, like the Lower School Book Recycling project, are decades-old traditions, while others are brand new, including an environmental sustainability slogan contest.

Earth Day Book Recycling

Country School families donated several thousands of used books to a popular recycling program in the Lower School library. This week, Lower School and Kindergarten students were given coupons to go shopping and “buy” these books in the library. In partnership with the school’s Parents’ Association, they were able to donate a portion of the recycled books to Person-to-Person in Darien, a local social service agency.

“The kids get a first-hand, tangible experience recycling something they enjoy – books,” said Lower School Librarian Jean Stevens, who has been organizing the Earth Day initiative for more than 20 years. “They understand that what’s old to someone else is new to them.”

Environmental Sustainability Slogan Contests

The New Canaan Country School Sustainability Committee, comprised of faculty and staff and led by Director of Facilities Ed Kirk, created a slogan contest as a way to raise awareness about the school’s commitment to environmentally sustainable practices. During the month of February, the committee hosted a contest for a slogan to be used on reusable coffee mugs, cups and spirit wear in the Logo Store and displayed proudly on the school website. They were thrilled to receive more than 150 entries from Kindergarten-Grade 6 students, but a bit overwhelmed by the task of selecting the winners. All of the contest entries will be displayed in the school’s Grace House lobby this spring.

The winners are:

Go Green, Go Clean, Go Boldly — Charlotte Cooper of New Canaan, 5th grade

NCCS Sustainability, It's our Nature — Eva Mackenzie of Darien, 3rd grade

You Recycle and the Earth Smiles Back — Eva Mackenzie of Darien, 3rd grade

Every Day is Earth Day Here — Aubry Grant of Darien, 4th grade

Paw Prints in Recycling Symbol— Stephanie Boggess of New Canaan, 6th grade

Take a ride on the green side — Madelyn Kinsley of New Canaan, Maggie Newport of Rowayton and Daphne Upson of Darien, 4th grade

No pollution is the solution — Keeley Strine of New Canaan, 5th grade

If you have a chance to make a difference, take it! — Michaela Springer of Redding, 4th grade

Keep it Clean, Keep it Green — Jack Harrington of Norwalk, 4th grade

Go Bold, Go green — Eva Juarez-Lace of Stamford, 3rd grade

Go Big, Go Green, Go Boldly! — Colin Mackey of New Canaan, 6th grade

I love the earth so much! — Tommy Cali of Wilton, Kindergarten

A commitment to environmental responsibility is part of New Canaan Country School’s mission, and has been evident throughout the school’s more than 100-year history in its operational practices, through the use of its 75-acre campus and throughout the school’s Pre-K through Grade 9 curriculum.

New Canaan Country School is a co-ed, independent day school for students in Pre-K (ages 3 & 4) through Grade 9. For more information about the school, please visit www.countryschool.net.