Latin School of Chicago

"Changes a matter ofare incremental," he acknowledges. "It is altering the way our students perceive Tim Cronister assists with recycling. their surroundings." One example of how challenging this can be is Latin's recycling program. While there are three active environmental clubs in the upper school, one in the middle school and one in the lower school, a significant number of students (as well as faculty and staff) still do not personally recycle. Habits will change, Cronister believes, as environmental studies increasingly are incorporated into the curriculum and environmental consciousness increasingly becomes part of students' everyday lives. "To a large extent it is generational," he says. "The younger our students are, the quicker they are to embrace changes in lifestyle. It is becoming part of their norm." Through Cronister and Brown, Latin has joined the Green School Alliance, an international organization that works with schools to take action on climate change and the environment. Cronister, partnering The school has reduced the number of pieces of mail by 25,000, translating into the conservation of 30 trees, 12,460 gallons of water and 5.34 cubic yards of landfill space. with students, has made reusable water bottles available to everyone in the school, has pushed for increased participation in events such as National Walk to School Day and Earth Day, and is studying what other independent schools are doing. Meanwhile, Brown has been in discussions with Science Department Chair Steven Coberly about how facilities innovations can enrich the curriculum; an example is the use of data from the solar panels in science classes. Members of the Board of Trustees who are active in environmental causes also have supported consciousness-raising efforts by introducing initiatives such as the Cool Globes program, which allowed students to join artists from all over the world in designing publicly displayed globes intended to raise awareness and provoke discussion about global warming. The Future The next steps for Latin? A school-wide committee on environmental stewardship is working toward an environmental impact statement for the school, and environmental sustainability certainly will be considered in the curriculum mapping that is currently under way. A goal is to make reducing Latin's carbon footprint be more prominently included in the next long range plan and eventually become part of the school's mission statement. "Because Latin is a small school, we have the opportunity to be a model for environmental sustainability," says Cronister. "If we continue along the path that we have been – making a commitment both financially and in terms of vision and mission – I think we'll be there in the next 10 years." – Evelyne Girardet Latin now uses stationery composed of 60% recycled fiber and 30% post-consumer fiber which saves 7 trees from being used in the process. 18 Latin Magazine

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