The Green & Healthy Committee at PS 321 works to create a more environmentally conscious school community through a range of hands-on initiatives and programming. The committee organizes the beloved school event Green & Healthy Night and tends to Plantville, the Upper School’s vegetable garden. Past initiatives have included composting and recycling education for the students, as part of our broader commitment to being a Zero Waste School, and reducing plastic use in the cafeterias, to help make everyday school routines more environmentally friendly.
The committee is dedicated to improving and maintaining our surroundings beyond the school walls. This includes partnering with local organizations to beautify the spaces around our PS321 buildings and care for our tree beds, and facilitating regular student-led neighborhood clean-ups to keep sidewalks and green areas free of litter. The committee also collaborates with teachers to support garden-based learning and integrate green and healthy initiatives into the classroom, ensuring that sustainability is woven into students’ daily experiences in meaningful and engaging ways.
If you would like to get involved in any of our initiatives, or if you have additional ideas for how PS 321 can be Green & Healthy, please email us at greenandhealthy@ps321.org.
Green & Healthy Night
Green & Healthy Night is a fun, community-centered event for PS 321 families that celebrates eco-conscious living and healthy lifestyles. The evening features a wide range of engaging activities, including plant-based food tastings from local restaurants, educational activities on composting and solar energy, and movement-based classes featuring yoga and dance, all hosted by neighborhood businesses. It serves as the culminating celebration of the school’s Green & Healthy Month, when students focus on healthy eating, physical activity, and environmental stewardship. Families are invited to come explore, learn, and enjoy a lively night that encourages both personal well-being and care for the planet.
Thank you to our past partners! Miriam, Spice Spice Baby, Brooklyn Granary & Mill, The Midori Chef, Allora, Vato, Mindful Sports, Amerikick, Age for Stage, Gymstars, Well Reserved, Estuary Explorers, PS 321’s Plantville, Earth Matter, Climate Families NYC, Brooklyn SolarWorks, Karen Wise Photography, PS 321 art teacher Kim Mettler, PS 321 SLT members, and more.
Plantville
Plantville at PS 321 is the Upper School’s vibrant backyard garden, where students across all grades engage in hands-on learning by planting, growing, and observing a wide variety of fruits, vegetables, and herbs, from beans and pumpkins to kale, carrots, and lettuce. The garden serves as an outdoor classroom and a space for exploration, helping children connect with nature, science, and food in a meaningful way. Throughout the year, students participate in seasonal activities like planting and harvesting, while science classes often incorporate the garden into their curriculum.
Plantville is supported by an active community of parent volunteers and offers many opportunities to get involved, regardless of experience or availability. Ongoing initiatives include facilitating classroom garden visits, general garden maintenance, and school clean-up events. Plantville continues to grow with exciting projects such as indoor hydroponics, native plant gardens, and expanded growing spaces at the Lower School, making it a dynamic, evolving hub for sustainability and education at PS 321.
Lost & Found
The committee is in charge of keeping the Lost & Founds in both school buildings organized. Every couple of months, on Family Fridays, these items are displayed at the front of the school buildings so that families can more easily find their lost items. Any remaining items are donated to families in need in the greater Park Slope community.
Walk for a Healthy Planet
Every other spring, PS321 holds a school-wide walk and fundraiser to raise money for nonprofit organizations that are working on environmental issues.
Past years’ fundraisers have raised anywhere between $10,000 and $25,000 for organizations selected by students. Our students feel proud and hopeful about the fundraising and their ability to contribute to a healthier world. In addition to fundraising, the entire school, from kindergarten to fifth grade, walk the two-mile inner loop around Prospect Park. It’s an incredibly moving experience to be part of over 1,300 people walking together to help create positive change in the world.
Looking to get more involved in green initiatives around Brooklyn? Save these dates for Awareness and Action, courtesy of the Green School Alliance
Gowanus Alliance
Woodwell Climate Research
Cafeterial Culture
Green Guerrillas
Red Hook Initiatives
City Green Force
Streets for Kids
Transportation Alternatives
Billion Oyster Project
Natural Areas Conservancy