Carpooling

In an effort to mitigate its carbon footprint (WA has signed the Green Schools Climate Commitment – GSCC , pledging to achieve carbon neutrality by 2020), carpooling has become formalized at WA. Two weekday carpooling spots were added in the Gym Parking Lot for seniors. Only cars with 3 or more students can be parked in these spots up until 10 minutes before the start of the school day, after which anyone can use the spots. In the Kingsley Parking Lot, faculty have one carpooling spot which requires two or more passengers and follows the same time limits as the Gym lot. This past fall, the WA Environmental Club drafted a proposal to the Headmaster requesting that the school begin a carpooling system.

WA Composting

This year Worcester Academy began composting its food waste from the dining hall at the neighboring Charlie Buffone Garden, which is run by community members and Oak Hill CDC. Environmental Club members have been managing the composting program as one part of the new “O Waste” program at WA, which when applied to the dining hall challenges people to take only what they will eat, avoid choosing items that can not be composted, and compost napkins and food scraps that can not be eaten.

Winter time means slow going for compost, but after middle school students and members of the 9th grade Environmental Science class helped “winterize” the garden. For more info click on Charlie Buffone Garden. Last year composting took place at the East Campus Garden while this year the focus shifted to expanding the school’s connections local agricultural networks.