South School Principal Matt Kascak was recognized by Planet New Canaan as a “Green Hero” during its annual Green Gala on October 1. The award honors his leadership and dedication to advancing composting and sustainability initiatives at South School.
Working collaboratively with students, families, and staff, Kascak helped establish a school-wide composting program that has diverted more than 47,000 pounds of food scraps from the waste stream through the end of the 2025–2026 school year. Each week, South School composts more than ten 64-gallon containers of food scraps and compostable materials, including food trays, utensils, and brown napkins.
Under Kascak’s leadership, South School’s composting efforts have served as a model for sustainability initiatives across New Canaan Public Schools. The program's success has helped inspire similar efforts at the district's other elementary schools, with composting programs now established at all three NCPS elementary schools.
Kascak’s recognition reflects his ongoing commitment to environmental stewardship and his efforts to foster a culture of sustainability throughout the school community.
