Ranney Celebrates Earth Day

Ranney School’s colors are blue and white, but on Wednesday, they were blue, brown and GREEN as students in the Upper, Middle and Lower Schools dressed in the colors of the earth to celebrate Earth Day. The special dress down day was just one of the many ways all three divisions marked Earth Day, a day set aside to raise awareness about the importance of a healthy and sustainable environment. In the Lower School, students and teachers turned off the classroom lights, Smartboards, and computers for one hour each morning this week to conserve energy. In addition, lesson plans focused on environmental themes and earth sciences topped the agenda in science lab.

Middle and Upper Schools kicked off the Day with the second annual “Day Without Electricity” on Friday, April 17. Classrooms and hallways were dark to reduce the school’s carbon footprint. On Wednesday, many of the outdoor activities planned for the Earth Day festival had to be moved indoors when it started to rain, but that did not stop students from enjoying the day. A representative from Clean Ocean Action began the program with an assembly in Panther Hall. Tavia Danch held the students in rapt attention throughout her presentation, as she illustrated the devastating effects of land-based pollution on the ocean’s native plants and animals. Following the assembly and an indoor barbeque and picnic, Upper School students were treated to a variety of earth-themed activities, including an environmental scavenger hunt, environmental chalk drawings, Ted Talk lectures and Yoga. Upper School Science Department Chair Marnie Jones said the day proved it is always possible to enjoy nature and its surroundings, even when the weather fails to cooperate.

For additional information on all Ranney School news, please contact the Communications Department at communications@ranneyschool.org.