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Success Story: Shorewood Elementary School
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Student Green Team
Shorewood’s green team celebrates successes |
School District: Highline
School Location: Burien
Began participating in the Green Schools Program: September 2010
Level One of the Green Schools Program: Achieved in May 2011
Waste Reduction and Recycling
- Shorewood Elementary School increased its recycling rate from 25 percent to 57 percent.
- The school recycles 15 32-gallon bags of milk cartons each week.
- Shorewood began the 2010-11 school year with a school-wide assembly and classroom workshops provided by King County.
- Labeled recycling bins were placed in all classrooms, work areas and food areas. Students from each class were in charge of monitoring classroom recycling bins and emptying them at the end of the day. School custodians helped monitor lunchroom recycling bins.
- Student groups periodically collected data on recycling and garbage in the lunchroom and reported their findings to the student body.
- Through posters and video skits, student groups informed the student body about reducing waste and how to recycle.
- Waste free lunches were promoted. Students who eat school lunch were encouraged to take only what they can eat from the salad bar. Parent bulletins included ideas for packing waste free lunches.
- Straws have been almost eliminated from the lunchroom. Only students who need straws use them.
- The staff green team created monthly goals to reduce waste and improve recycling. Goals were communicated to staff and students through emails and announcements.
- Staff received regular updates through email and staff meetings about recycling and other conservation practices. Staff revisited this topic with students throughout the year.
- Office staff compiled an email list of families and now sends the majority of parent newsletters by email.
- Teachers shared ideas for how they can use less paper. Ideas included increasing margins on documents, making double-sided copies, and condensing homework packets.
- Paper reuse boxes were set up in classrooms and work rooms for scratch paper. Students use this paper for drawing, informal assessments and non-graded assignments.
Comments
“We are very proud of the efforts from students and staff to reduce our garbage and increase our recycling. It has truly been a team effort! We look forward to continuing our work with King County Green Schools to reduce our waste and share our knowledge with our community.” – Erin Spencer, teacher
For more information about the school’s conservation achievements and participation in the Green Schools Program, contact:
Erin Spencer, teacher
spenceek@hsd401.org
Pandora Touart, resource conservation manager, Highline School District
touartap@hsd401.org
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