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Success Story: Leota Junior High School
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Leota students and staff kick off their food scrap collection program |
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Students help to sell bags of compost donated by Cedar Grove Composting facility |
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Earth Hero at School Award
Robin Lane Schommer, parent volunteer, receives the King County award in April 2011.
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School District: Northshore
School Location: Woodinville
Began participating in the Green Schools Program: October 2008
Level One of the Green Schools Program: Achieved in April 2010
Waste Reduction and Recycling
- Leota Junior High began to recycle in every classroom by adding recycling bins and stickers that list what materials can and can’t be recycled.
- Leota improved its recycling rate from 11 percent to 46 percent, a 318 percent increase.
- As a result of increased recycling, the school downsized one of its Dumpsters and decreased garbage picks ups.
- To teach students and staff about how to reduce waste and recycle, students in the GET IT Club created signs, posters and an educational video, and hosted a Green Spirit Week during which they made daily presentations and announcements.
- The GET IT Club hosted a King County Green Team specialist who provided education in the lunchroom to culminate Green Spirit Week.
- Leota’s Green Schools Team, which is comprised of students and staff, partnered with kitchen and custodial staff to conduct a four-week lunchroom food composting pilot. Student and staff organizers set up an effective collection system for food scraps, educated the school about what materials can be composted, and weighed and tracked all lunchroom waste volumes daily.
- During the pilot, the school collected more than 100 pounds of food scraps and food soiled paper each day for a total of more than 2,000 pounds of compostable material. Starting in September 2010, the school plans to have Cedar Grove Composting collect organic materials.
- A parent volunteer worked with the Green Schools team to coordinate a fundraiser to cover the cost of Cedar Grove collection service during the 2010-11 school year. Cedar Grove Composting donated bags of compost, which were purchased by families and friends of Leota Junior High. The school raised more than $1000, which will pay for all of the school’s composting collection expenses for one year.
- On Earth Day, 30 bags of compost donated by parents was spread on school grounds.
Awards
- Student Cora Byers received a King County Earth Hero at School Award in 2009.
- Student Audrey Phillips received a King County Earth Hero at School Award in 2009.
- Custodian Jon Nishimura received a King County Earth Hero at School Award in 2010.
- Parent volunteer Robin Lane Schommer received a King County Earth Hero at School award in April 2011.
- Leota Junior High was awarded a “Give Kids a Hand” grant from the East Lake Washington District of Garden Clubs. The school received $1,000 for the composting project.
Comments
“The King County Green School Program has really helped us focus our efforts and make a positive effect on our school. Prior to our involvement with King County Green Schools, we did a lot of talking and spinning of the wheels. The program helped us come up with environmental targets and measureable outcomes of our efforts. The program also provided recycling containers and stickers which helped us get the recycling message out to our school and drastically increase our recycling rates.” - Burton Barrager, teacher
For more information about the school’s conservation achievements and participation in the Green Schools Program, contact:
Burton Barrager, science teacher
bbarrager@nsd.org
Jane Vincent, science teacher
jvincent@nsd.org
Robin Lane Schommer, parent volunteer
robin_lane@hotmail.com
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