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Success Story: Snoqualmie Elementary School
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Snoqualmie Elementary set up recycling containers and signs for its June 2009 field day. |
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Earth Hero at School 2008. |
School District: Snoqualmie Valley
School Location: Snoqualmie
Began participating in the Green Schools Program: March 2007
Level One of the Green Schools Program: Achieved in June 2009
Level Two of the Green Schools Program: Achieved in June 2010
General
- Snoqualmie Elementary has been a leader in the district and has encouraged other district schools to “go green.” The Green Team at Snoqualmie Elementary made a presentation to the school board about the school’s waste reduction and recycling successes, and met with representatives of Chief Kanim Middle School to help them start to make Green School improvements.
Waste Reduction and Recycling
- In 2009-2010 Snoqualmie Elementary staff worked with the district to eliminate plastic silverware, clam shells and polystyrene bowls from its lunchroom.
- In 2009-2010 teachers led a re-usable bag and bottle campaign as both an education campaign to reduce waste and as a school fundraiser.
- Since starting to participate in the Green Schools Program in 2007, Snoqualmie Elementary increased its recycling rate from 31 percent to 49 percent - a 58 percent increase - by expanding classroom recycling and starting a lunchtime recycling program that includes milk cartons.
- Recycling containers provided by the Green Schools Program were added to classrooms for comingled recyclable materials and to the lunchroom for milk cartons, juice boxes, plastic bottles and aluminum cans.
- Kitchen staff recycles steel cans.
- With the help of district groundskeepers, garbage and recycling containers were placed side by side in key areas on school grounds.
- Snoqualmie Elementary also collects plastic bags, eyeglasses, cell phones, printer cartridges and glue sticks for recycling.
- School staff placed recycling stickers that list what can and can’t be recycled on classroom and lunchroom recycling containers.
- Teachers Jennifer Gjurasic and Bill Hayden,, with support from principal Cori Pflug, have led Green Team efforts. The Green Team meets weekly to plan next steps.
- Students created paper reuse boxes, helped with recycling collection and worked on litter reduction campaigns.
- The Green Team implemented Waste Free Wednesdays to encourage students to bring durable and recyclable lunch containers from home. On Waste Free Wednesdays, garbage volumes are reduced by 80 percent.
- Teachers use technology when possible to limit the use of paper handouts. They are skilled at “rethinking” resource use.
Energy Conservation
- All schools in the Snoqualmie Valley School District reduced energy use after the district provided automatic computer shut down at the end of every school day.
- Snoqualmie Elementary conducted a school challenge for students to pledge to reduce the amount of energy they use at school and at home.
- Stickers were placed near light switches to remind students, staff and visitors to turn off the lights when they aren’t needed.
- End of day checklists also help classrooms to conserve energy.
Transportation Options
- Snoqualmie Elementary became a No Idle Zone school.
- Students made signs and talked with parent drivers about turning off their engines when picking up and dropping off their children.
- Information about avoiding idling was included in parent electronic newsletters.
Environmental Education
- Principal Cori Pflug presented information to the school board about the school’s student Green Team efforts, which are examples of student service learning.
- All classrooms participate in the school-wide recycling program.
- The school participated in the King County elementary school assembly program and invited Green Team specialists to help lead students.
- Environmental topics are integrated at all grade levels.
- First graders study sun, moon and stars and focus on collecting and examining life.
- Second graders examine life cycles and rocks.
- Third graders also look at sun, moon and stars, weather, and salmon habitats.
- Fourth graders study the solar system, “structures of life” including crayfish and shrimp, and use the “environments” kit.
- Fifth graders learn about the earth’s changing surfaces and use the rock kit, and also look at heredity and adaptation.
Awards
- Snoqualmie Elementary received a King County Earth Hero at School award in April 2009 for achieving a culture of environmental stewardship where conservation is a daily practice and a natural part of the school curriculum and for encouraging other schools in the district to do the same.
- Terry Husseman Sustainable Schools Award (external)
Comments
“Thanks for all of your help. Our recycling program is off to a great start!”
– Jennifer Greenough, teacher, 2008
“After the Wednesday no trash day, my daughter and a friend started a club called Making It a Better World Club….It’s fabulous that the recycling program has gotten these first graders thinking of ways they can make a difference. Thanks to everyone who is supporting this program!”
– Deborah Doy, parent, 2008
“We have it started, clearly, and the strongest indicator is in our kids' enthusiastic participation. They are young yet, and they can learn by practicing good habits. Our major challenge at this time is to get this program to be sustainable. What I want to work toward is to continue to have a green team made up of highly motivated people - teachers, parents, students, principal, custodians and county liaison.”
– Bill Hayden, teacher, 2008
For more information about the school’s conservation achievements and participation in the Green Schools Program, contact:
Jennifer Gjurasic, teacher
greenoughj@svsd410.org
Cori Pflug, principal
pflugc@svsd410.org
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