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On Friday, September 21st, Dutchess Day School launched the school’s efforts to incorporate
environmental and sustainability into the fabric of the school community. Science teacher Amanda Ackers
introduced the school to the term, sustainability during the school’s weekly assembly. According to the
Brundtland Report of 1987, sustainability is defined as “Development that meets the needs of the present
without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.” The students learned
both what it means, and most importantly why it is essential for Dutchess Day School to make the
transition to an environmentally sustainable campus.
After this part of the presentation, the co-chair of the school’s Sustainability Committee, Diane Duffus,
shared the science behind these environmental practices. She explained how our precious biosphere
covers a layer around the earth as thick as her commute to school – 14 miles! She emphasized that we
share this space with: 6 billion human beings, 4.4 billion domestic animals, 1,667,000 billion wild
animals, 580,000 billon water animals, and many more billions of insects, plants and bacteria. The
importance of living in a sustainable fashion became very clear to all ages.
The assembly finished with the community walking to their new large scale-compost bin for its
dedication. With Barbara Bettigole’s help, second grader J.T. Flaherty cut the dandelion garland that
officially opened the bin for business. This compost system accommodates the majority of the food
waste generated daily by the school’s kitchen, lunch room and classroom snacks.
The school has only moved forward with its plans to incorporate and facilitate social and environmental
sustainability. The school actively recycles cell phones and printer cartridges, in addition to paper and
plastic bottles. It has also made the commitment increasingly to use recycled paper and eco-friendly
cleaning products. Furthermore, the school is actively investigating ways to “tighten its envelope”. These
efforts to promote the three “Rs,” Reduce, Recycle, Reuse, keep Dutchess Day School involved at the
local level of the environmental and sustainable movement. If you happen to visit the school, you can
wander over to the new Lillian Goldman Preschool which opened its doors for the first time this fall. This
wholly “green” construction demonstrates DDS’s commitment to create a learning environment that
fosters life-long learning that will sustain itself.
All of these efforts are inspiring other schools and organizations in the Hudson Valley to do the same.
Michelle Leggett, the Recycling Coordinator at Ulster County Resource Recovery Agency, visited the
school to learn about its large-scale composting system with the hopes of replicating it at a school in
Ulster County. Indeed the school hopes this program can serve as a workable model for sustainability
Dutchess Day School is not only reaching out to other communities, but has also recently joined Green
Schools Alliance (GSA) and the NYS Go Green Initiative Association, funded by the New York State Dept of
Environmental Conservation, and signed the Green Schools Climate Commitment pledge. In concert with
these initiatives, Dutchess Day School is moving into the future with future generations in mind.
environmental and sustainability into the fabric of the school community. Science teacher Amanda Ackers
introduced the school to the term, sustainability during the school’s weekly assembly. According to the
Brundtland Report of 1987, sustainability is defined as “Development that meets the needs of the present
without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.” The students learned
both what it means, and most importantly why it is essential for Dutchess Day School to make the
transition to an environmentally sustainable campus.
After this part of the presentation, the co-chair of the school’s Sustainability Committee, Diane Duffus,
shared the science behind these environmental practices. She explained how our precious biosphere
covers a layer around the earth as thick as her commute to school – 14 miles! She emphasized that we
share this space with: 6 billion human beings, 4.4 billion domestic animals, 1,667,000 billion wild
animals, 580,000 billon water animals, and many more billions of insects, plants and bacteria. The
importance of living in a sustainable fashion became very clear to all ages.
The assembly finished with the community walking to their new large scale-compost bin for its
dedication. With Barbara Bettigole’s help, second grader J.T. Flaherty cut the dandelion garland that
officially opened the bin for business. This compost system accommodates the majority of the food
waste generated daily by the school’s kitchen, lunch room and classroom snacks.
The school has only moved forward with its plans to incorporate and facilitate social and environmental
sustainability. The school actively recycles cell phones and printer cartridges, in addition to paper and
plastic bottles. It has also made the commitment increasingly to use recycled paper and eco-friendly
cleaning products. Furthermore, the school is actively investigating ways to “tighten its envelope”. These
efforts to promote the three “Rs,” Reduce, Recycle, Reuse, keep Dutchess Day School involved at the
local level of the environmental and sustainable movement. If you happen to visit the school, you can
wander over to the new Lillian Goldman Preschool which opened its doors for the first time this fall. This
wholly “green” construction demonstrates DDS’s commitment to create a learning environment that
fosters life-long learning that will sustain itself.
All of these efforts are inspiring other schools and organizations in the Hudson Valley to do the same.
Michelle Leggett, the Recycling Coordinator at Ulster County Resource Recovery Agency, visited the
school to learn about its large-scale composting system with the hopes of replicating it at a school in
Ulster County. Indeed the school hopes this program can serve as a workable model for sustainability
Dutchess Day School is not only reaching out to other communities, but has also recently joined Green
Schools Alliance (GSA) and the NYS Go Green Initiative Association, funded by the New York State Dept of
Environmental Conservation, and signed the Green Schools Climate Commitment pledge. In concert with
these initiatives, Dutchess Day School is moving into the future with future generations in mind.
Dutchess Day School Announces Official Launch of its Campus
Sustainability Initiative
Sustainability Initiative