Stewardship

At MCDS, we seek to instill and nurture in students a sense of stewardship for the environment, grounded in a foundation of science and ecology. We do this by weaving a sense of connection to the natural world through the curriculum across all Divisions and grade levels.

In Lower School, students use the outdoor classroom of the Lower School Garden to learn about the planting, tending, and harvesting of food crops. Middle schoolers use the scientific inquiry process to learn about the positive impact recycling, reusing materials, and reducing consumption can have on the environment.

In Upper School science, students study the planets and learn that Earth is the only body in our solar system that appears able to support life. Upper Schoolers study biology to learn more about caring for themselves and the environment. They study environmental issues such as water use and conservation. Our new Upper School garden provides teachers and students with an outdoor extension of their science labs.

By encouraging students to think critically and apply solid scientific skills, we aim to nurture an appreciation of the interconnectedness of life on our planet and an understanding of the impact of personal decisions on the common good.

“Education for sustainable living fosters both an intellectual understanding of ecology and emotional bonds with nature that make it all the more likely that our children will grow into responsible citizens who truly care about sustaining life, and develop a passion for applying their ecological understanding to the fundamental redesign of our technologies and social institutions, so as to bridge the current gap between human design and the ecologically sustainable systems of nature.”

from Ecological Literacy: Educating Our Children for a Sustainable World