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Success Story: Cougar Ridge Elementary School
School District: Issaquah
School Location: Unincorporated King County
Began participating in the Green Schools Program: September 2010
Level One of the Green Schools Program: Achieved in May 2011
Waste Reduction and Recycling
- Cougar Ridge increased its recycling rate from 36 percent to 59 percent.
- Fourth and fifth grade students trained the other students about waste reduction and recycling practices.
- Seven teachers and 189 students were involved in leading Green Schools’ activities at Cougar Ridge.
- The Cougar Ridge green team created a PowerPoint about proper sorting of recyclable items that was shown to all students during class time. After the presentation, students had a chance to practice sorting recyclable materials from waste materials.
- Student green team leaders presented skits at each of the school’s three lunch periods to show what can and can’t be recycled. Student volunteers helped monitor lunchroom recycling containers for two weeks after kick-off.
- In December 2010, the school held an assembly program about waste reduction and recycling.
- Posters about recycling were made by students and hung in hallways and the lunchroom.
- With support from the City of Issaquah, Cougar Ridge set up a food scrap collection program in its lunchroom. Food scraps and other compostable materials are collected and brought to a composting facility.
- Students are encouraged to take only what they can eat and to eat what they take. As a result, less food is being wasted.
- Teacher McKenzie Walsh conducted lessons about conservation for all fifth grade students, and other teachers also incorporated similar lessons into their curriculum.
- Recycling stickers were placed on all recycling containers. Students empty classroom recycling bins into larger containers, which the custodian empties into the outdoor recycling container.
- Cougar Ridge recycles printer cartridges and plastic bags in its staff area.
- To reduce paper use, the newsletter is sent via email and many classrooms collect paper that’s only been used on one side and offer it to students for notes and projects.
For more information about the school’s conservation achievements and participation in the Green Schools Program, contact:
McKenzie Walsh, teacher
walshm@issaquah.wednet.edu
Trina Loehendorf, teacher
loehendorft@issaquah.wednet.edu
Larissa Davis, teacher
davisl@issaquah.wednet.edu
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