"Our third-grade enjoy collecting fruit and vegetable scraps from the kitchen and adding them to our compost bins. In spring, they can use the compost when we plant the garden.
" - Crystal Glyyn, Primary School science teacherSustainability
Statement of Purpose: The sustainability movement at MKA leads by example to foster students’ ethical development. As students move through MKA, they are encouraged to be leaders in responsible use of their resources and stewards of their community. By the time students graduate, they will further understand their impact on the environment and be inspired by their experience at MKA to make meaningful change in the world around them.
Overarching goals:
- To engage students in developing responsible daily habits and connecting their actions with global consequences.
- To encourage teaching sustainability through curriculum and the buildings themselves by making responsible decisions.
- To lower the carbon footprint of the school by reducing the energy and water use by buildings.

Sustainability Initiatives by Campus
Quotes
"I think the water-filling station is useful because instead of wasting plastic water bottles, you can refill your own water bottle."- Lila Jung, 3rd grader
"I think that it's really important to recycle and be sustainable because if you take a long-term view of your community and you don't sustain it, you will run out of resources."- Stephen Hatfield, 3rd grader
"MKA is excelling in recycling. We remember in 5th grade, when the school had just gotten new bins and people were unsure what to put in. In the Green Group we have made many presentations about this matter. All of our work paid off, because our recycling data has increased. Maybe next year we will win the Green Cup Challenge!"- Madison Green and Grace Huntington- 7th grade
"From more efficient water fountains to students conducting research in an attempt to improve our community's sustainability, MKA has made huge strides in the years I have been here."- Nicole Romola '15
"MKA's commitment to the environment shines through its new water fountains, signs scattered around teaching about the environment and students and teachers who pride themselves on sustainability."- Sarah Fatkin '18
"The sustainability program at MKA keeps getting better every year and is saving the earth one kilowatt at a time!"- Marc Roube '16
"Adding water bottle refilling stations has saved hundreds of plastic water bottles from death by incineration or landfill."- Isaiah Kramer '16
"The automatic lights are great because I always forget to turn off the lights."- Julia Malloy '18
"I had never seen such a concentrated effort to conserve energy by teachers until I attended MKA."- Pierce Cohen '16
History
Both Upper and Middle schools compete in the Green Cup Recycling Challenge each fall and the Green Cup Energy Challenge each winter. These competitions help MKA analyze its efficiency and make students aware of the impacts of their choices.
Environmental Action (EnAct) promotes a culture of sustainability among students and faculty.
Faculty involved in the Citizens' Climate Lobby attended the People's Climate March with 400,000 others in 2014.
In 2012 our dining halls switched to reusable plates and silverware after years of Styrofoam plates and plastic ware
In 2012 we installed triple bins instead of single wastebaskets, which has dramatically increased recycling rates.
As of 2012 we began to make student concern forms, appointment reminders and advisor announcements available electronically rather than on paper.
In 2013 we installed occupancy sensors to turn lights off automatically when classrooms are empty.
In 2013 we installed water coolers connected to our tap-water supply, eliminating the need for plastic bottles shipped here by truck.
In 2014 we installed water bottle–refilling stations that encourage reusable water bottles instead of disposables.
In 2014 our Technology Department helped significantly reduce paper waste by installing print management software that only allows a job to be printed after entering a print release code.
The new Upper School Academic Center, completed in 2016, has a green roof and many other eco-friendly aspects. MKA hopes that the center will receive LEED certification.
Since 2011, MKA has been making strides to be a greener, more environmentally friendly school. In the last 4 years, we have taken steps to significantly decrease resource use at MKA.
Contact Information
Charles Janus
cjanus@mka.org
Dana Rose
drose@mka.org
Ben Rich
brich@mka.org
Laura Zimmerman
lzimmerman@mka.org
Clubs
Middle School Green Group
Upper School Environmental Action (EnAct)
Weather Bug
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