April showers have given way to beautiful May flowers on the RPCS campus, and spring is in full bloom. The sun is actually shining as I write this newsletter! I heard a saying recently that certainly applies to the Roland Park Country School community: Take care of the earth, and she will take care of you. As you know, environmental sustainability has been an integral element in the RPCS program as we educate and prepare our students for the 21st Century.
During second semester, seniors in the Sustainable Design elective studied the Lockhart Vaughan Foundation RFP as part of their coursework. As a result, they decided to make a presentation to the Administrative Council asking the School to consider installing a small Solar Photovoltaic Array to help with the School’s energy needs, but more importantly, to serve as an educational tool. Along with the solar panels, the plans include a webcam and monitoring system for data collection. The students’ thorough research, the logic of their proposal and their understanding of the importance of balancing the economic, social and environmental needs of the installation was impressive. They came to realize that even a small installation, that could be funded in full by a Lockhart Vaughan Grant, would have a significant impact on our community – students and adults, alike -- and help us all look for alternative energy resources in our own private lives to reduce climate change beyond the walls and grounds of our School. I am proud of our students for using their minds and their voices so well. We seek in all we do to have our students learn to be good advocates for themselves and for what they believe in. The School has taken their research and developed a proposal and has, in turn, applied to the Lockhart Vaughan Foundation for the funds to implement what the students researched and deliberated. I am hopeful that our proposal will be funded, but whether or not it is, I think we have shown the students that they can be the agents of change for the better in our world.
Teaching and learning are a two way street! Just as the students can teach us, we often teach them by example. Thanks to the vision of our Board of Trustees, the thoughtful management of the project by our team of architects, designers and builders, the innovative design features and educational elements that have been developed as a result of this green building, the RPCS Athletic Complex is truly a testament to the school’s commitment to a sustainable world and an inspiration for our students’ education. I am excited to announce that RPCS has just been notified – at last – that we have been awarded LEED © Gold certification (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) for the Athletic Complex!
RPCS has also received a renewal of our Governor’s Green School status. The top five accomplishments that we detailed in our application are as follows:
1. Using the school building and the entire campus as a teaching tool.
2. Moving towards zero waste - reducing our trash, increasing our recycling and composting. RPCS has reduced waste by 60% since 2008.
3. Establishing gardens for learning.
4. Educating for sustainability across the curriculum and throughout the grades.
5. Becoming climate stewards - measuring our carbon footprint annually and challenging ourselves to reduce our carbon footprint. RPCS has reduced carbon emissions by 10% since 2008, even as we have expanded our square footage!
Spring marks my favorite season with our seniors. As I have done for the past 19 years, I host breakfast for our seniors in small groups and ask them about their RPCS experience. It is heartwarming to hear that they value all they have learned at RPCS, their close relationships with teachers and, most especially, the mutual support they give to and receive from each other even as they are challenging themselves. In a world where it is increasingly more important to know how to think critically, we are proud that our students can meet this task head-on with confidence.
I would like to extend a personal Thank-You to the RPCS Parents’ Association for the wonderful ways in which appreciation of the RPCS employees was visible in April. Each of us at RPCS are so fortunate to have involved and grateful parents as partners in the education of our students.
I look forward to seeing you on campus for the many concluding events of the 2010-2011 academic year and at the Red Hot Run on May 22nd at 8:30 am! Please check the all-School news section for registration information.
~J.W.B.
From the School Nurse
In anticipation of the upcoming 2011-2012 school year, I am writing to remind you of RPCS health form policy. No student may attend classes, tryouts, rehearsals or practices until forms have been received and reviewed by the School Nurse. 48 hours are required to process health forms.
Steps to complete health forms
1. All students
· Complete electronic information (forms) in the RPCS SchoolBase Health Form Link.
· The Health Form Link becomes active for the 2011-2012 school year on July 1st.
· This is the only step required for returning LS students.
2. MS and US returning students
· The physical exam must be current (since 8/01/10).
· I encourage you to contact your daughter's pediatrician now to schedule your daughter’s physical exam or to have her forms completed. The process can take several days to weeks to have the paperwork completed.
· Completed Physical Exam Forms should be mailed to RPCS, attention “School Nurse”
3. New students
Please don’t hesitate to contact me with any questions you have concerning health forms. Have a safe and healthy summer!