SUSTAINABILITY SPOTLIGHT: Celebrate Earth Day at MCS!

MCS Sustainability Committee

There will be many ways to celebrate Earth Day at MCS this month! Our Sustainability Committee has something for everyone, caregivers and children alike, whether you’re already a zero-waste star, or just starting to look into ways to reduce your environmental impact!

Wednesday, April 17th, through Friday, April 19th (during drop offs & pick ups) - Spring Clothing Swap

Declutter your home: a clothing swap will be hosted at school from Wednesday, April 17th through Friday, April 19th.

Free event, without any form of transaction: you don’t have to bring something to take something! While donations to MCS are welcome, they are not required.

Please only bring clean items suitable for school-age students (age 3/4 through 15). No rips or stains. As a general rule, only bring items that your or other kids would love wearing.

Items will be displayed outside the school at morning drop-offs and afternoon pick-up (weather permitting).

No registration required. A bin will be available outside the school for families to drop off their clothes donations.

Thursday April 18th - Bike Bus

All MCS students and caregivers are invited to participate in the next MCS Bike Bus on Thursday April 18th (weather permitting).

The bike bus departs from Harlem and everyone can hop on the “bus” at any point on its journey to school. Caregivers who do not yet have a CitiBike membership can receive a free 24-hour pass (or a discount to access an e-bike) upon registration.

All participants must register by Tuesday, April 16th, 2024. Upper School students can join unsupervised.

Note: the following edition of the MCS Bike Bus will be held on Wed. May 8th, which is Walk, Bike and Roll to School Day! Mark our calendar, and stay tuned for more bike-related events during Bike Month (May)!

Friday, April 19th - Lower School Earth Day Assembly

Children and caregivers will gather in the gym on Friday, April 19th, from 8.45 to 9.30 a.m., for the annual Lower School Earth Day Assembly.

The Committee will deliver a brief presentation on the importance of reducing and reusing (and only then recycling).

Friday, April 19th 8:30 pm Film Screening of Microplastic Madness.

As part of the Earth Day celebrations, all MCS students and caregivers are invited to join in a film screening at MCS, on Friday, April 19th, from 3.30 to 5PM (room TBC), of the award-winning documentary “Microplastic Madness”.

The movie follows Brooklyn’s P.S. 15 5th graders on their quest to making their school cafeteria Zero Waste and fight plastic pollution. The screening will be followed by a Q&A.

Register by Wednesday, April 17th, at https://bit.ly/EarthDayFilmScreeningatMCS.

Note: although open to all students, this documentary is best for children age 7+. All participating students will be under their caregiver’s supervision during the screening.

Wednesday, April 24th at 6 p.m - Zero Waste Workshop in the MCS Library

The Sustainability Committee will offer a full evening of activities on Wednesday, April 24th at 6 p.m., as part of Earth Day, including a crash course on starting a zero-waste journey, practical demos (e.g. jam making, yoghurt making, mending and easy swaps) and the clothing swap finale.

Children are welcome to attend the workshop.

Register here by April 23rd!

Participants will also get a say in what topics should be covered next.

Parent-Led Forum (PLF) on Racial, Social and Environmental Justice, Wednesday, May 1st, at 6pm, MCS Library

A PLF, presented jointly by the Sustainability Committee and the Racial Justice Committee, will be hosted at school on Wednesday, May 1st, at 6pm in the library, with guest speakers exploring how the three pillars of the school, namely Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, Social Justice & Activism, as well as Farm-Based Education & Sustainability, intersect.

The presentations will put the spotlight on how children of color and of socially disadvantaged backgrounds are disproportionately impacted by environmental challenges. It will be followed by a Q&A, and attendees will be called to action.

Childcare will be provided on a first come, first served basis, upon separate registration by Sunday April 28th at 8pm.

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Anyone in the MCS community can join the Sustainability Committee!

If you are a parent, guardian, faculty or staff member and are interested in joining us email us at:

mcssustainabilitycommittee@gmail.com

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SUSTAINABILITY SPOTLIGHT: Celebrate Earth Day at MCS!

Manhattan Country School