Sustainability

Lower School 

• Regular presentations regarding sustainability in classrooms and at Community Meetings.
• In the Science Lab, kindergarten students study earthworms, worm casting, and composting, 1st grade explores food waste using Subpod for schools, 2nd grade grows microgreens and compares soil types, while 3rd graders explore how long food takes to decompose. The 4th graders mix nitrogen and carbon ratios and learn about active soil microbes. They also study sustainable fishing and food chemistry.
• 2nd graders maintain all the hummingbird feeders and build a pollinators garden in the LS Courtyard.
• 3rd graders study the water cycle and have a water symposium with representatives from the Salt River Project. 
• After-school Programs feature Go-Green Class and the Garden Club.

  • Go Green promotes environmental awareness by helping clean up campus and discussing sustainable actions across campus and at home.

  • Garden Club demonstrates a connection with nature by growing vegetables and herbs that are then used in the PCDS kitchen for lunch. They focus on living greener by composting and learning to conserve natural resources

Middle School

• Weekly sustainability segment in Morning Meetings.
• 5th grade science classes address the water cycle, carbon cycle, and nitrogen cycle. They study the causes and effects of global warming and climate change. There is a group project on human action/inaction related to climate change and how humans are modifying the land around them to adapt.

• 6th graders attend Friendly Pines Camp in Prescott. Students learn about the local ecosystem, native and invasive plant species, wildfires, and the impacts of human intervention. They review the water cycle in the desert, where our water comes from, and how we can be more thoughtful consumers of water. Students also learn the importance of “Leave No Trace” principles which teaches how humans can enjoy natural environments with the smallest impact possible.

• 7th grade science classes learn about human impact on the environment, as well as the benefits of composting and the science behind decomposition. In the 7th Grade Bridge Project, students tackle problems that are important to them—often these are climate challenges.

• 8th graders attend the Catalina Environmental Leadership Program (CELP) in Catalina, CA. Students are guided through a series of land and sea explorations, each aimed to bring about a greater understanding and connectedness to self, others, and the environment.

Upper School

• Physics course regarding the physics of energy in the context of climate change, including the Greenhouse Effect, the science of wind turbines and hydroelectric generators, and analysis of carbonless electricity plants.
• 11th and 12th graders have the opportunity to choose from a number of interdisciplinary electives that investigate our relationship to the wilderness and everyday interactions with nature: 
  • Humans and the Wilderness
  • Western Visualism and Nature

• The Upper School has an active and engaged Environmental Club that started with a small group of students composting on campus in 2019. Their drive inspired the Middle and Lower School to start composting. The Environmental Club also maintain the Upper School gardens.

• The Upper School has had an active Outdoors Club since 2012 that allows students to interact with nature according to their level of athleticism and comfort through backpacking and car camping trips.

The Weekly Eagle e-newsletter shares Information with families regarding ways to be more environmentally friendly in their homes.

• Light-colored roofs reduce heat island effect, keeping spaces cool and saving energy.
• Tile roofs for durability against the Arizona monsoon, made of earth minerals, not chemicals, so they can be crushed and recyclable when taken down. The curved shape of the tiles circulates air beneath the surface, which cools the roofs and the interiors.
• Restrooms employ low-flow toilets to conserve water.
• Low use/automatic faucets in Lower and Middle School bathrooms reduce water usage.
• High efficiency air filters are used in all classrooms to improve air quality and efficiency of HVAC systems, therefore reducing electricity use.

• Over 50 water bottle refilling stations across campus, eliminating the use of single-use plastic bottles.

• Solar lighting installed in areas where older electric campus lights failed or needed replacement.
• Native plants or xeriscape landscaping methods used across campus.
• Landscape waste used as compost fill as needed.
• Non-harmful chemicals used for landscaping maintenance.
• Artificial turf used in small high traffic areas across campus to reduce water use.
• Timed water irrigation systems conserve water.
• Well water used for irrigation across campus.
• Green or non-harmful cleaning supplies used throughout campus.

• Commercial compost vendor R.City collects our food waste each week.
• All three divisions operate compost bins for learning and composting.
• Dining Hall and grounds composting (leaves & grass clippings) have diverted thousands of pounds of waste from landfills.
• Sage, our food service partner, is committed to sustainability and reducing its environmental impact. Food waste is weighed daily and other efforts are made to reduce waste.
• Bins for recycling and composting are strategically placed throughout campus.

• Annual electronics recycling through Westech Recyclers diverted one ton of electronic waste from landfills.

• PCDS has reduced or eliminated many of its printed materials.

• When disposables must be used they are compostable, recycled, or recyclable.

• Parent Association (PA) events include composting, using reusable utensils, and large stainless steel water dispensers.

Roz Abero, Assistant Head of School
Marian Florey, Parent Representative
Maki Fullerton, Middle School Science
Amy Hill, Lower School Operations Manager
Andy McKean, Lower School Technology & Design
Tim Mitten, Director of Operations and Campus Safety
Hallie Mueller, Upper School Visual & Media Arts
Brent Root, Middle School Science
Pete Saunders, Upper School Science