Our Campus
From the waters of bay to the rolling hills of the Ring Mountain Nature Preserve, MCDS is surrounded by the beauty of the outdoors.
Our unique location allows us to use areas of our campus as outdoor classrooms and to offer students an environmental education that is integrated into the curriculum. We also aim to teach students to be good stewards of the environment.
Outdoor education at MCDS is not only limited to our campus. Beginning in fourth grade and continuing through eighth grade, students take overnight trips to extend the learning that takes place on our campus.
Campus Details
- 35 acres
- 40 Classrooms
- Science Building and Labs
- Learning Resource Center (Library, Technology, Student Support Services)
- Music and Art Rooms
- Performing Arts Auditorium
- Marine Science Dock
- Gymnasium and PE Pavilion
- Multi-Purpose Rooms
- Tutoring/Practice Rooms
- Athletic Fields
- Gardens and Greenhouse
Sustainability & Stewardship
In keeping with our mission, MCDS seeks create "an inclusive community of learning that inspires curiosity, empathy and action." We strive to create students who not only care deeply about the environment but are also highly motivated to take action.
MCDS models sustainable practices through our composting and recycling programs, our efforts to reduce electricity and gas consumption, and by raising awareness among faculty, staff, and students about the need to conserve resources.
Our "green" campus buildings/spaces are both a physical manifestation of and an ongoing inspiration for our commitment to creating ecologically literate students and transformative new curriculum around educating for sustainability.
The "green" features include:
- Photovoltaics
- Daylighting
- Radiant heating and cooling
- Rainwater harvesting
- Natural ventilation
- Green roof
- Reused materials and sustainably harvested wood
Stewardship
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. Students also 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, recycling and conservation. Our Upper School garden provides teachers and students with an outdoor extension of their science labs.
Students serving on the "Green Team" gather items for our recycling collection programs such as TerraCycle.
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.