GFS Releases Five-Year Sustainability Plan

Germantown Friends School has publicly announced its Five-Year Sustainability Plan, a 15-page digital publication outlining the proposed strategies needed to achieve measurable goals across three focus areas: Operations & Infrastructure, Education & Health, and Environment & Climate. Each focus area covers specific topics in more detail—such as climate neutrality, zero waste, and sustainable transportation.

The plan was spearheaded by Francine Locke, GFS’ Director of Sustainability, in collaboration with the Stewardship Committee and leadership team, and with the input of student leaders in the Upper School Environmental Action Club. The holistic plan codifies the school’s longstanding commitment to sustainability and was structured in accordance with the GFS Strategic Vision and Sustainable Campus Plan.

“The ultimate goal for this work is to elevate our school's existing sustainability work and reduce our school’s contribution to the climate crisis, graduating students who are thoughtful and knowledgeable stewards of our world,” said Locke.

Locke spent the last 18 months both gathering data and conferring with constituents across the community on the priorities for the plan. Her work began by researching the school’s historical archives and generating a State of Sustainability Report, outlining GFS’ commitment to resource conservation, resilience, green infrastructure, and sustainability-infused academic programs. 

During the spring of 2025, Locke shared a survey with Upper and Middle School students, faculty, and staff, prompting them to articulate what they believe sustainability means to the Germantown Friends School community. This action provided insights that, combined with the school’s mission and strategic vision, Quaker philosophy, and discussions with other members of the community, established a definition for sustainability at GFS:

Sustainability is our commitment to actively create a thriving world for current and future generations through responsible practices, planning, and stewardship. Guided by our Quaker values, we achieve this by educating and empowering our community to make responsible decisions, taking into consideration the conservation of economic and environmental resources, minimizing waste, transitioning to renewable energy, and fostering a healthy, ethical relationship with ecosystems, both within and beyond our campus.

All members of the GFS community are encouraged to participate in the implementation of the Five-Year Sustainability Plan, which is available to view on our new Sustainability webpage.