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Success Story: The Jewish Day School
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Students participate in food scrap composting collection |
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Earth Hero at School Award
Jim Wiesen and Team Yerukim students receive the King County award in April 2011. |
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Lunchroom containers for emptying leftover liquids, recycling bottles and cans, composting food scraps/food soiled paper, and garbage (landfill). |
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Students help remove invasive plants |
School Location: Bellevue
Began participating in the Green Schools Program: October 2008
Level One of the Green Schools Program: Achieved in June 2010
Level Two of the Green Schools Program: Achieved in November 2011
Waste Reduction and Recycling
- Team Yerukim, The Jewish Day School’s elementary student green team led by Rabbi Stuart Light, helped set up the school’s recycling program.
- In partnership with King County, the City of Bellevue provided on-site support, recycling containers, and recycling signs for the school.
- In 2011, Team Yerukim expanded to include a newly created middle school group led by Jim Wiesen. The elementary and middle school team members work together to maintain the program through regular promotional messages.
- From October 2008 to November 2011, the school’s recycling rate increased from 15 percent to 55 percent.
- Each day at 10 a.m., two students from each class deliver trash, compostable materials and recyclable materials to a central area where they are emptied into collection containers – a process monitored by students and Jim Wiesen to ensure all materials are properly sorted. The activity also provides students a chance to compare their recycling and food scrap levels to other classes.
- Faculty and the parent association increased use of email, e-newsletters, and blogs for their communication.
- Team Yerukim initiated an annual holiday Recycled Gift Fair encouraging students and their parents to donate toys and gifts they no longer use. Participating families receive credits to purchase other recycled toys and gifts.
- Team Yerukim promotes waste free lunches by encouraging students and their parents to pack lunches and snacks in durable and recyclable containers. Team members monitor lunchroom waste and recycling containers to ensure that compostable materials, recyclable materials, and trash are properly sorted.
- All classrooms, offices, and common areas have recycling containers with signs listing what can and can’t be recycled.
- Food scraps are collected campus-wide and collected by Cedar Grove Composting to be composted.
- In 2011, the school decreased the size of its garbage/landfill container and increased the number of compost containers from one to three.
- Preschool students place their leftover food from snacks into a worm bin located in the school’s vegetable and herb garden.
- In 2009-10, in partnership with Albertsons, the school returned polystyrene sandwich packaging which was recycled by the store. In 2010-11, in response to the school’s request that no polystyrene packaging be used for the sandwich lunch option, Albertsons started packaging sandwiches in paper sacks which are collected at the school for composting.
- Durable trays and utensils are used in the lunchroom and compostable materials are used for community events on campus.
- The school maintains an area for reusable supplies such as file folders, binders, decorations, displays, etc.
- To conserve paper, staff members canceled unwanted subscriptions and mail.
- Containers are placed on campus for the recycling and proper disposal of electronics.
Energy Conservation
- Maximum water temperatures have been lowered where allowable.
- Thermostats have been set at energy-efficient levels and are monitored to ensure they are not adjusted by unauthorized persons.
- Parents have been encouraged in school communications to dress students appropriately for temperatures in the classrooms.
- Team Yerukim created energy reminders/signage for light switches, computer stations, copiers, smartboards and appliances.
- Unnecessary appliances have been removed from classrooms and offices.
- Team Yerukim announces energy conservation tips during the school’s First Friday assemblies.
Environmental Education
- Environmental stewardship is a component of the school’s curriculum. Recycling and stewardship projects, such as removing invasive plants and the clean-up of area parks and trails, are elements of the school’s two annual community service days.
- Middle school students participated in an environmental summit focused on climate change.
- Middle school math and science curriculum includes energy conservation information and activities.
- Middle school science teacher Lisette Trombley used lessons from Hazards on the Homefront, a program offered by King County, in all her classes. The sixth grade class made bottles of a non-toxic spray cleaner using vinegar, water and borax, and plans to design labels for the bottles, make posters, film a commercial, then invite parents to visit the class to compare the product with a commercial spray cleaner, and hopefully take the product home to use.
- The school’s conservation efforts and successes are promoted via newsletters and on the school website.
Environmental Purchasing
- The Jewish Day School has a comprehensive environmental purchasing policy that pertains to office supplies, art supplies, cleaning products, energy efficient equipment, kitchen and lunchroom products, and other purchases.
- The school purchases recycled content paper and prints materials on unbleached, Forest Stewardship Council-certified paper with soy and vegetable based ink.
- Green building approaches and standards are carefully considered and implemented whenever possible during renovation and construction.
Transportation Options
- Team Yerukim started a no idling campaign in the school parking lot during student drop-off and pick-up times to educate both students and parents about the environmental and health effects of idling cars.
Award
- Team Yerukim and Jim Wiesen, Athletic Director, received the King County Earth Hero at School award in April 2011.
For more information about the school’s conservation achievements and participation in the Green Schools Program, contact:
Jim Wiesen, athletics and facilities director
jwiesen@jds.org
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