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Green Committee

 For Princeton Junior School, "being green" means to educate children and the wider Princeton Junior School community about environmental sustainability, to strive for efficient use of resources and energy, and to provide a healthy indoor and outdoor school environment. In spring 2007, a Green Committee was founded with faculty, staff and parent members. The Green Committee reviews common practices in the school and supports changes towards greener alternatives. For example, electronic communications and double-sided photocopying are promoted to reduce paper use. All classrooms and common areas have recycling buckets. Children, teachers, and staff are encouraged to reduce waste by preparing “waste-free” lunches and by using reusable containers or mugs for drinks. Cleaning products have been replaced by more environmentally friendly products. Energy usage is monitored and improvements are made when possible.

For changes to its outdoor property management, Princeton Junior School was awarded the River-Friendly Certification from the Stony Brook-Millstone Watershed Association (www.thewatershed.org/). The school also joined the Living Lawns Campaign by Sustainable Lawrence (www.sustainablelawrence.org/), and the Certified Wildlife Habitat program of the National Wildlife Federation (www.nwf.org/). The school is a member of OASIS (Organizing Action on Sustainability in Schools), an association of independent and public schools in the greater Princeton area.
The Green Committee publishes Green Tips in the emailed Weekly Friday FYI.  A compilation of these tips is available by clicking on “Green Tips and Survey Results” on this page. Green Tips on organizing events were compiled in a special edition (available by clicking on “Best Practices for Greening Events” on this page).
The Committee is also involved in organizing special activities, e.g., a “Green Celebration” at Princeton Junior School attended by other local schools and organizations (April 2008), a Waste Free Lunch Exhibit at the NJAIS conference (October 2008), a Grade V fundraiser selling Compact Fluorescent Light Bulbs (2009), and a Green Survey (2010, included in “Green Tips and Survey Results” ). Each school year, the Committee chooses a theme for class activities, with final presentations in the Earth Week assembly. For the 2011-2012 school year, grades K to V will participate in making a map of the campus, with descriptions of the different habitats present. The School Council will work on a booklet with green tips for school, home and beyond.
 The Green Committee can be reached by e-mail (Greencommittee@pjs.org), and the monthly meetings are open to all members of the Princeton Junior School community. Meetings are held on the first Tuesday of each month, at 8:15 am in the Well (the school kitchen). We hope to see you there!
 

 


Best Practices for Greening Events
February 03, 2012

Green Tips and Survey Results
March 01, 2011


“This school is very special to all my family. The academic lessons taught here will last a lifetime.”
PJS Staff and Parent
“One of my favorite times of the day is dismissal…listening to the children laughing or discussing their day...There is just such a warm welcoming feeling that comes over me every time I walk through the front door.”
Parent of Alumna and
Grade I Student
“I loved learning about the rainforest (my favorite animals were the Toucan and the Harpee Eagle) and studying about the life of Benjamin Franklin and then telling the K Class about him.”
Grade II Student
At PJS…“I’ve learned to accept everybody for who they are and not to judge people just for what they like or what they do.”
Grade V Student
“PJS teachers have the time, inclination and encouragement to tailor their approach to each child. The work is demanding, but creative….The strong emphasis on helping children to speak up and present their ideas, the creative aspects and the solid preparation for the next step are hugely important.”
Parent of Alumna




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