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Success Story: Two Rivers School
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Carbon Footprint
Student with his poster about how to reduce one’s carbon footprint.
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Energy and Salmon
Student holds up poster about saving energy and wild salmon.
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Student displays cell phone recycling container. |
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Student explains recycling poster to fellow students. |
School District: Snoqualmie Valley
School Location: North Bend
Began participating in the Green Schools Program: March 2008
Level One of the Green Schools Program: Achieved in June 2010
Level Two of the Green Schools Program: Achieved in May 2011
Waste Reduction and Recycling
- In 2008-09, the environmental science class began a composting project by writing a grant proposal to the Snoqualmie Valley Schools Foundation.
- In their classroom, the environmental science students learned about nutrient cycling with a nitrogen cycle investigation using lab supplies purchased through a King County Green Team grant.
- The environmental science class and the leadership class formally established a green team to educate the school about recycling and composting.
- For all classrooms and common areas, students created signs that incorporate examples of recyclable and compostable materials.
- Students also made receptacles for snack wrappers and Capri Sun drink pouches. These materials are sent to TerraCycle which uses them to make new products.
- Green team members made a presentation to the entire school about green team projects and how students could participate.
- The green team received recycling bins for classrooms and common areas and placed stickers listing what can and can’t be recycled on each recycling bin.
- To track the school’s recycling rate, the green team monitored garbage and recycling bins. Two Rivers has maintained a recycling rate of 40 percent.
- Reusable trays and bowls are used for school lunches.
- Hazardous waste materials were removed from the science laboratory.
- In 2011, a group of students volunteered to go to North Bend Elementary every day for two weeks to teach the students how to recycle their lunch waste.
Energy Conservation
- The green team monitored turning off computer monitors at night.
- Classroom lights have an automatic shut-off at 5 p.m. when the school closes, and the bathroom lights turn off when bathrooms are unoccupied.
- One student made a PowerPoint presentation showing how using less electricity can help salmon.
- Two students researched carbon footprints and created posters to hang throughout the school on how students can reduce their carbon footprints.
- Two other students created posters about electricity use and hung them throughout the school.
- Some students conducted research about ways to reduce the school’s electricity use and then created a storyboard for a video which was shared with teachers and students.
Comment
“Now that the Green Team has provided the proper recycling procedures and receptacles all around the school, my students are getting habituated to using them. In fact they make a big deal if they see someone put paper into the trash. And the response is swift if anyone spots a bottle in the recycle bin with a cap on it. This is a big positive change for my students, and I just thought they should get a pat on the back for a job well done.”
–Joe Burgener, Middle School Teacher
For more information about this school’s conservation achievements and participation in the Green Schools Program, contact:
Laurie Weinkauf, teacher
weinkaufl@svsd410.org
Tom Athanases, principal
athanasest@svsd410.org
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