We believe that MKA must foster among all community members a sense of responsibility for environmental sustainability. We must inspire resource conservation, preservation, and regeneration to help ensure the long term viability of humanity and address environmental and related social justice issues to promote health and quality of life for all.
Fundamental to our mission to provide students with a transformative education and inspire them to lead lives of noble character, purpose, and distinction, MKA must ensure that students gain the knowledge, vision, and integrity to develop habits that enable them to make responsible stewardship decisions and contribute to a more sustainable and just world. MKA must model clear sustainability principles and practices through all dimensions of school life and school operations, most specifically our physical place, organizational culture, and educational program. As we strive to achieve these sustainability ideals and to serve as a model for other schools and communities, we will hold ourselves accountable for acting consistently with the values articulated herein.
To recognize our responsibility as citizens, to cultivate intellectual independence, and to promote personal engagement with the world, as MKA’s mission states, MKA makes the following environmental sustainability commitments:
"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 teacher"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
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.
Middle School Green Group
Upper School Environmental Action (EnAct)
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