Expansion - Going Green - Montessori Private School | Mclean | Fairfax County

As our students continue to learn and grow, so does Brooksfield and today we are at a crossroads. Currently our curriculum encompasses pre-K through 3rd grade. Throughout the years, parents have requested that the school consider expanding its curriculum through grade six. We have reached capacity at our current site at St. Dunstan’s Church in McLean and routinely maintain a waiting list. In addition, administrative space is at a premium. In order to meet these challenges, Brooksfield needs to expand to a new and permanent location.

Sponsors

“Going Green”

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Painting our NEW rain barrel in art class

Watering our gardens

Brooksfield School is committed to promoting sustainability in everything we do, from the classroom to the playground. We aim to create healthy, eco-friendly learning environments for our children while instilling in them the importance of environmental stewardship. We are taking a number of steps to reduce our school’s environmental impact. As we gain more knowledge and implement green practices, we will continue to share that knowledge wit our students and their families.

Our goals in greening our school include:

Creating a culture of green in our everyday school life

Integrating eco-education into regular curriculum
Involving the children in hands-on green learning exercises, such as composting and gardening
Incorporating green practices into our daily school operations

Taking steps to reduce waste, energy use, and water consumption

Implementing an effective and manageable recycling program
Integrating water-saving practices and/or technologies, including a rain barrel to reuse collected rain water
Adopting energy saving practices and, where applicable, installing energy saving devices

Supporting a green supply chain

Using green materials and office supplies
Contracting with vendors that have environmentally sound practices whenever possible

Promoting eco-awareness beyond our front doors

Engaging with our surrounding community on environmental initiatives
Educating the school’s families on ways that they can live greener

Benefits of “Going Green”
Brooksfield is now a memeber of the US Green Building Council. Protecting the health of both students and teachers, minimizing the impact on the environment, lessening energy costs, and teaching our students about environmental stewardship are a few of the many benefits of building a green school. According to the U.S. Green Building Council, studies have shown a correlation between day-lit schools and performance, and a reduced rate of asthma in schools with an improved indoor air quality. These are just a few of the benefits that have been discovered through extensive research and studies (www.buildgreenschools.org/resources/research.html).