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Success Story: Glacier Park Elementary
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Glacier Park Elementary
(click image to enlarge)
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
Waste Reduction and Recycling
- Glacier Park Elementary School increased its recycling rate from ten percent to 68 percent.
- As a result of increased recycling and decreased garbage volumes, this school of 900 students annually diverts more than 600 cubic yards of solid waste from the landfill.
- Glacier Park saves the Tahoma School District an average of $7,000 annually through reduced garbage collection costs.
- Lunchroom garbage volumes were reduced from 80 bags per week to 16 bags per week – an 80 percent reduction – by recycling food scraps, milk cartons and plastic bottles.
- The student Green Team created recycling posters, monitored the new lunchroom recycling program and visited classrooms to promote recycling.
- Recycling containers provided by the Green Schools Program were added to the lunchroom for milk cartons, juice boxes, plastic bottles and aluminum cans.
- School staff placed recycling stickers on all recycling containers. Provided by the Green Schools Program, the stickers list what can and cannot be recycled.
- The school has held several book exchange events to encourage textbook reuse.
Transportation Choices
- To reduce greenhouse gas emissions and raise awareness about climate change, Principal Hard 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.
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
- Glacier Park 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
For more information about this school’s conservation achievements and participation in the Green Schools Program, contact:
Emilie Hard, principal
Telephone: 425-432-7294
E-mail: ehard@TahomaSD.US
Connie Jo Erickson, head custodian
Telephone: 425-432-7294
E-mail: connieE@TahomaSD.US
Cathy Haws, teacher
Telephone: 425-432-7294
E-mail: chaws@TahomaSD.US
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