Chaim Sciamma

April has arrived, bringing blossoming flowers and warmer temperatures. It also marks the most important event in the RCDS calendar: Earth Month. During this exciting time, RCDS students and faculty work together to make the school as eco-friendly as possible. Whether it’s cutting down on food waste or recycling extra carefully, every Wildcat plays their part in making the Earth just a little bit greener.

Upper Schoolers have shown their commitment to tackling food waste, winning this year’s Food Waste Challenge with an impressive 3.32% reduction. Some Wildcats are going even further in the lunchroom. Just Food Club leader Chase Talpins ‘27 gave The Rye Crop an exclusive look at a new initiative being launched throughout April. “We’re all doing a fantastic job of keeping food waste low,” Talpins noted, “but with April being Earth Month, the Just Food Club will find creative ways to repurpose any leftover food and ensure nothing goes to waste.” Talpins also shared that the club will be hosting food sales, with “Mystery Bowls” priced at $10. Yum!

A special shoutout goes to the Junior Class, which has been working exceptionally hard to reduce greenhouse gas emissions during their commute to school. Since the start of the school year, students have been keeping the Junior Lot empty, proving their commitment to more eco-friendly modes of transportation such as walking and Uber rides. In early April, Juniors briefly began filling the lot. However, after a stern word from Grade 11 Dean Mr. Cerpa during Class Meeting, the lot has gone back to being eco-friendly. Keep it up, Juniors!

One of the greatest environmental challenges RCDS faces is improper recycling. Every day, candy wrappers and math quizzes are placed in the wrong bins, directly contributing to global warming. The Upper School has a history of poor recycling, having earned a middling 2nd-place finish in the 2024 Recycling Challenge. This year’s halfway update was no better, with the Upper School reaching only 64% accuracy. That’s equivalent to only recycling correctly around 60% of the time. 

However, Earth Month has given the Wildcats new vigor and determination. Following an independent investigation and an informal survey, The Rye Crop is proud to report that the Upper School now achieves 100% recycling accuracy. That’s equivalent to recycling correctly around 100% of the time. We are excited to see this achievement help secure a 1st-place finish in this year’s Recycling Challenge.

Director of Sustainability and Science teacher Ms. Linderoth shared some of the initiatives the school has undertaken to promote awareness and education about environmentalism and sustainable practices. “The Earth Day Fair itself is a highlight,” Ms. Linderoth explained. “We had Bash the Trash perform for the Lower and Middle School with instruments made from recycled materials, the Nature Station from the Rye Nature Center, and even a visit from the Whalemobile.”

Ms. Linderoth also shared additional events happening throughout Earth Month. “We hosted cleanups at the Edith G. Read Wildlife Sanctuary, held the annual clothing swap, and welcomed Kyle Wyche of Ecotone Renewables to speak with students and lead tours of our ZEUS food waste digester.” Overall, Ms. Linderoth concluded, “RCDS offers many meaningful opportunities for education and hands-on sustainable practices.”