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Success Story: Glacier Park Elementary
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Waste free lunch
Poster contrasts a wasteful lunch with a waste free lunch.
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In addition to recycling as much as possible, many Glacier Park students bring their lunches in reusable containers. |
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The Green Team’s bulletin board at Glacier Park. |
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Using recyclable plastic bottles, students created hallway art to promote recycling at the school. |
School District: Tahoma
School Location: Maple Valley
Began participating in the Green Schools Program: February 2007
Level One of the Green Schools Program: Achieved in June 2009
Level Two of the Green Schools Program: Achieved in June 2010
Level Three of the Green Schools Program: Achieved in May 2011
Waste Reduction and Recycling
- Glacier Park Elementary School increased its recycling rate from ten percent to 68 percent, saving an average of $7,000 annually.
- During the 2008-09 school year, the school began to collect lunchroom food scraps and food soiled paper for composting collection and to collect cartons and bottles for recycling collection.
- As a result, the school reduced lunchroom garbage volume by 80 percent from 80 bags per week to 16.
- This school of 900 students annually diverts more than 600 cubic yards of solid waste from the landfill.
- The student green team created recycling posters, monitored the new lunchroom recycling program and visited classrooms to promote recycling practices. Recycling containers were added to the lunchroom for milk cartons, juice boxes, plastic bottles and aluminum cans. Staff placed recycling stickers listing what can and can’t be recycled on all recycling containers. The school has held several book exchange events to encourage textbook reuse.
- A Waste Free Lunch Challenge week was organized by the student green team. The student body watched a PowerPoint that explained why we should bring a waste free lunch and how to pack a waste free lunch. Displays were set up around campus for information and to encourage participation. A grade level competition was held weekly after the kick off to continue momentum. The challenge reduced our garbage by one bag per day.
- Green team continues to recycle Capri Sun pouches and Lays chip bags through TerraCycle.
- Glacier Park is a collection site for electronic and printer cartridge recycling through cartridges for kids.
Energy Conservation
- The school purchased a “Kill a Watt” meter to track energy usage, and teachers are encouraged to use it with students.
- All staff is asked to restrict the use of personal heaters, refrigerators and other appliances in offices and classrooms.
- Students made “The Power is in Your Hands… to turn out the lights” signs and placed them over every light switch.
- The principal started an energy patrol with students during lunch. Students monitor classrooms for energy use practices and give gentle reminders about conservation.
- On longer breaks -- such as winter break and spring break -- the heating and cooling units in the outside portables are turned off to save energy.
- Custodians are using non-toxic cleaning products which can be used in cold water instead of hot water.
Environmental Education
- Sustainability and environmental education are integrated into the curriculum.
- Kindergarten students explore waste reduction and recycling and ways to help the environment.
- First graders explore the marine life community and their relationship to it, and set goals to preserve and protect marine environments.
- Second graders compare and contrast temperate and rainforests and learn about endangered species.
- Third graders explore the interconnections between land and water and learn about cause and effect in real world situations, and study salmon in the context of their local community.
- Students explore the natural environment, geography and economics of Washington state and learn how to take a stand on natural resource issues.
- Fifth graders learn how to use a microscope and then make comparisons with larger organisms and systems.
- Students at Glacier Park use the school grounds as a learning tool in various contexts. The garden program includes composting, planting, harvesting and worm bins. The produce students grow is donated to a local food bank.
- Teachers organize regular litter pickups.
- The school’s Green Team organized a “Walk, Bike or Bus to School” month to increase awareness and promote responsible stewardship.
- “Who Wants to be a Recycler?” was played during lunchtime to review recycling practices.
- One third grade class maintains the worm bin, and has completed a compost unit which included a community information booth at Celebration of Learning to inform and encourage backyard composting, worm bins, and use of the yard waste tote for composting food waste.
- The school held a recycled art exposition in which students created art using recycled materials.
Transportation Choices
- To reduce greenhouse gas emissions and raise awareness about climate change, the principal organized district buses to bring families to the school’s open house event and to the school’s celebration of learning event.
- The student green team made posters about positive actions students can take to reduce their carbon footprints.
- The school has asked buses to shut off their ignitions rather than idling while waiting for students.
- A walk-to-school campaign succeeded in persuading students to walk to school during the 2008-09 school year.
Water Conservation
- Students shared water conservation facts and reminders over the intercom system during morning announcements.
- The green team and garden club set up two water barrels on the portable buildings that are closest to the garden.
- Posters were attached to bathroom mirrors to remind students and staff to turn off the water as they lather when they wash their hands.
- A school-wide policy was instituted that requires the reporting of leaks and other water-related issues to the custodian on special yellow forms which identify them as a high priority work orders.
- Custodians maintain and replace aerators on faucets as needed.
- When a faucet needs replacing, metered faucets will be installed.
A leader in the district
Glacier Park Elementary was the first school in the Tahoma School District to participate in the Green Schools Program. Its efforts and achievements inspired the district and now all eight of the district’s schools are participating in the program and improving their conservation practices.
Awards
- Connie Jo Erickson, head custodian, and Cathy Haws, teacher, each received a King County Earth Hero at School award in April 2010.
- The Glacier Park green team received a King County Earth Hero at School award in 2008.
- Glacier Park received a greenhouse and $1,000 from the Washington State Potato Commission.
Comments
“I can truly say that this initiative is the most supported I’ve ever felt from an outside agency. Ever, bar none! You are terrific, and we appreciate you more than words can say.”
“It is easy for us to make this work when we have so much of your support. We feel so lucky to have made the connection with you and your agency! THANK YOU! You are such an inspiration to us, and we love working with you. Without you, we would not be nearly as far along with all of our recycling efforts. You help us every step of the way.”
“Last night at the school carnival, several parents described a heightened awareness about recycling that their children have brought to their home conversations. Some were laughing, commenting that their ‘kids are watching them’ to see if they are remembering to recycle. One parent said her daughter was like the recycling police. (This is) a wonderful reflection of our efforts paying off!”
– Emilie Hard, principal through June 2010
For more information about this school’s conservation achievements and participation in the Green Schools Program, contact:
Connie Jo Erickson, head custodian
conniee@tahomasd.us
Cathy Haws, teacher
chaws@tahomasd.us
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