Sustainability | Chadwick School

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Chadwick's Sustainability Program

Sustainability sits at the heart of Chadwick’s Mission to develop global citizens and it is fundamental to our Core Values. We believe sustainability is one of the most important ways that we can demonstrate respect and responsibility for current and future generations of Chadwick students as well as our local and global neighbors.
 

Sustainability Statement

At Chadwick School, we recognize the fragility of our planet and the impact of human actions on natural ecosystems. We acknowledge our responsibility to build and maintain a culture of environmental sustainability, to lead by example, and to take meaningful actions to create positive change on our campus and in the larger community. Sustainability is woven through our academic curriculum, extracurricular activities and all campus programs, and we help students to identify real-world problems and enact solutions through hands-on experiences. Ultimately, we habituate our community to sustainable lifestyles and guide our students to become global citizens and inspirational leaders.
 

Solar Panels — Generating Our Own Power

To help neutralize our carbon footprint, Chadwick School has installed more than 550 solar panels on the Innovation and Design building, the Leavenworth Library, the Pascoe Pavilion gym and the Geoffrey Alan Laverty Center for the Performing Arts. These panels generate their own energy and are contributing to our goal to create a more efficient and environmentally responsible campus.

Solar Panels Library Solar Panels Laverty

Chadwick Canyon — Our Outdoor Classroom

Chadwick students take great pride in maintaining and supporting the natural life surrounding our campus. Students in grades K-12 participate in classes in the Chadwick Canyon and in restoration projects, as well.

Sustainability in Action

Chadwick School's sustainability efforts focus on 10 key areas of operations:

Community Engagement

We engage all members of our community, including students, parents, faculty, staff, trustees and alumni in our efforts, and we believe that education is vital to creating a culture of sustainability in our community.
Academics
We integrate sustainability into the curriculum in all grade levels, divisions and departments, and create experiential opportunities for students to interact with and learn from the natural environment.
Co-Curricular Activities
We encourage, support and build sustainability-themed extracurricular activities with the goals to inspire meaningful action and develop sustainable lifestyles in our community.
Environmental Justice
We recognize and educate our community about the disproportionate impact of air and water pollution, climate change and other environmental hazards on marginalized communities in Los Angeles and beyond.
Food Services
We work to provide food that is healthy, fresh and sustainable. Through carefully selected food options, sources, packaging and dining hall materials, we seek to reduce the ecological and carbon footprint of our dining services.
Waste Management
We encourage our community to consider waste when purchasing, planning activities or bringing materials onto campus. We actively build and sustain recycling and composting programs in order to reduce the production of waste that must be disposed of offsite.
Energy Use
We work to improve campus energy efficiency and build renewable energy production with all campus improvements and new buildings.
Buildings and Grounds
We consider natural resources and the ecological and carbon footprint of our buildings and grounds. We work to limit water use through native/drought-tolerant landscaping. When it comes to construction, we make intentional choices in planning, materials, landscaping and machinery to lessen our impact on the campus and the local environment.
Procurement
We make our purchases with intention, seeking renewable and locally sourced products, and choosing companies that prioritize sustainability wherever possible.
Off-Campus Activities and Travel
We believe in the value of experiential learning and create off-campus opportunities for students to focus on sustainability. In the process, we make every effort to reduce the ecological footprint of our travel and activities.
During the tenth-grade Sustainable Consumer Project Exhibition, student teams explored and analyzed an unsustainable consumer practice of their choosing.
Chadwick third-graders took a field trip to the George F. Canyon Nature Center in Rolling Hills Estates
Eco Club students meet in Chadwick Canyon to work on the trail.
Eco Club students and teacher Pete Nordlund meet in Chadwick Canyon before working on the trail behind the school..

Tori Fay, K-12 Sustainability Coordinator and Upper School Science Teacher
“In sustainability, each action makes a meaningful difference, and every leader is an inspiration. If we all work together, we magnify our efforts to ensure a healthier world for ourselves and the natural environment.”

TORI FAY | K-12 Sustainability Coordinator and Upper School Science Teacher

Student Sustainability Leadership

Village School
  • Lower Village School students (grades K-2) raise the "Earth Flag" and recite the Earth Pledge every Friday.
  • Upper Village School students (grades 3-6) run the Belonging Garden to grow food for the community.
  • All Village School students actively participate in Earth Week activities, including eco-themed class competitions.
Sixth Grade
  • Student-elected sustainability leaders run initiatives and help to organize and run the EarthWick sustainability fair.
Middle School
  • Eco-club leaders restore and maintain the Chadwick Canyon.
Upper School
  • Student Sustainability Council (SUSCO) student leaders run the Green Team student club and work on campus-wide initiatives involving REDUCING waste and paper consumption, increasing glass and metal RECYCLING, and promoting clothing REUSE).
  • Eco-club students work in the Chadwick Canyon.

 

Contact us to participate in sustainability at Chadwick:

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