Built in 2007, our greenhouse is an extension of our science curriculum. In this rooftop urban farm, children grow cucumbers, tomatoes, sprouts, and other fruits and vegetables that supplement our cafeteria's salad bar. The greenhouse provides students with firsthand experience of farm-to-table food production, as well as the satisfaction and delight that come from eating the fruits of their labor.

The school's food service brings the Morningside Heights green market to our cafeteria. Our in-house chef serves a healthy, child-friendly menu using non-disposable plates, cups, and cutlery. Our food vendors are local, family-owned businesses, which reduces the environmental impact of transporting good across continents. Our personal relationships with these vendors ensure the quality of our pesticide-free apples, organic milk, whole wheat pastas, handmade breads, and custom-cut meats.

Beginning in  junior kindergarten, we plan field trips to expose children to the natural world within and beyond their urban environment. In the lower division, students visit nearby sites like the Science Barge, a sustainable urban farm on the Hudson River, and Stone Barns Center for Food and Agriculture. Upper division students travel on overnight field trips to Frost Valley YMCA for outdoor team-building adventures.

Our recent, $2.5 million renovation of our sixth floor incorporated green materials and design elements. The school’s administration challenged architects Murphy Burnham & Buttrick to implement features that would conserve energy and increase students’ productivity and efficiency while reducing the environmental impact typical of such a major facilities overhaul. Bathrooms on the sixth floor feature solar-powered, sensor-activated faucets, waterless urinals, and dual-flush toilets. Remote thermostats control the climates in each classroom. Lighting was designed to maximize natural light and reduce glare while utilizing TCLP-compliant, energy-efficient florescent bulbs. The design utilized recycled, natural, and renewable materials, PVC-free products, and non-toxic materials and finishes that require little or no maintenance. Throughout our school building, we use green-friendly cleaning products for maintenance.