Developing a Student Program to Reduce Impacts

Brad KuntzGladstone High School

The Gladstone Story From non-existent to award winning in five

years A complete cultural transformation Working to integrate from elementary, middle,

high school to the district office and school board

Project-based, service learning instruction as vehicle

Benefits students, school, community, district and the environment

Large, active group of students, taking measures into their own hands

Student Benefits Engages students in real life work Academic and life skills Student-led projects, empowers students Opportunities for reading, researching and writing

improvement Problem solving and critical thinking Teamwork, cooperative learning Leadership Forms unique relationship between teacher and

student Chance to make an impact, create change Become more active, conscious, healthier citizens Discover their voices can be heard, actions have

power, learn how to create change

School Benefits of a Sustainability Program Transform school’s culture over time through visible,

influential projects Reach students, staff, administration, district

leadership, community members Significantly decrease footprint over time Reduce costs to district, influence wise investments Become a leader in your region, influence other

schools Point of pride, school spirit, something to rally around Connections, networking, partnerships with

organizations to create new opportunities

Community Benefits of a Sustainability Program Can improve relationship between school

and community (even if already positive) Students discover a side of their community

they didn’t know existed: opportunities, resources, networks

Community members witness the exciting goings-on within your building & high quality of students/teachers

Families/community members decrease their footprints, save money

The Pathway Forward Form your team Baseline measurement Communicate Take action

Form Your Team Who will join you to begin/continue the

journey toward sustainability? When will the work take place? What are the pros/cons of various

scenarios?

Form Your Team Create class projects Involve a pre-existing club Start a club/Green Team

Students Staff Administrators Custodians Parents

Beginning a New Club: How To Recruit Membership Traditional methods of distributing news

to student body Approach Individuals Get Staff Recommendations Contact Parents Recruit Superstars Recruit More Staff Target specific skills

Keys to Running A Successful Organization Scheduling

Work around other clubs, athletics to avoid schedule conflicts with students Have Fun!

Find balance between accomplishing your goals, but having a good time doing it! Be Visible Incentives, recognition How to Get Attendance

Remind, Remind, Remind Make them feel welcomed when they come, even if they’re late, or missed if they

don’t come! Open Enrollment? Or solid commitment?

Student Leadership Nominations and Elections Committee System

It’s Not A Class Running Meetings

Baseline Measurement Waste Recycling Energy Water Transportation Specific Products Building effciency More…

Waste Audit Your goal is twofold

Present the data in meaningful ways to the various essential groups in the school community (students, staff, administration) Wake them up to the reality of waste,

motivate for change Target specific improvements, create

goals, determine action items based on the results

The Process Guide your students to understand the task in

advance Through discussions Have them read the step by step instructions

provided today Assign various tasks

Organization Data gathering Physical components

Leave me with your email address for step by step instructions of my version of a waste audit

Prior to the Waste Audit Review proper recycling procedures

Correct common misconceptions…like plastic cups, paper plates

Waste audit done with incorrect recycling knowledge will produce inaccurate data

Questions to Answer During Audit What percentage of your overall daily

trash should have been placed in your recycling?

Of the materials considered to be trash, what types of items are thrown away most often? How can their consumption be decreased? Are any of these recyclable by other means?

Take Action: Improve Recycling System Bin procurement

Hauler Grants Cheap/free (buckets,

boxes, donated) Consistent

Arrangement Paired Everywhere

Signage Clear Educational Consistent

Communication Students

Assemblies, announcements, classroom visits, videos

Staff Train staff to train students Recycling monitors

Administration Policies: pairing bins/cans, syllabus

requirement

***Recycling is NOT the most important thing, but it’s an excellent place to start!

Take Action: ExpandRecycling System Rigid Plastics Film Plastics Compost Electronics

Take Action: Target Specific Products Is it time to work towards the

elimination of: Paper plates? Styrofoam cups/bowls/plates? Packaged apple slices? Other ridiculous products?

Communicate Waste Audit Results How do you best present the results to:

Staff? Students? Administration?

Should you present the results to: The Board? Parents? Kitchen staff?

Review That was just one audit! Student benefits

Engaged, involved, developing leaders! Reading and following step-by-step instructions Researching local recycling details Math, Data analysis, problem solving

School benefits Cultural shift has begun More receptive to next steps

Community benefits Students taking home strengthened

understanding

Water and Energy Tracking Get district people keeping better track Organize bills, track usage over time,

identify areas of concern Chance for saving money Look at motion sensors Discuss efficiency options/investments

After Hours Audit How much energy is wasted after school

hours by leaving computers and lights on?

Chance to save money and energy Addresses teacher habits

mostly….Careful not to judge…must be gentle to encourage change!

Students presenting data need to be well-prepared, with data, charts, facts

Transportation Audit Work towards a No Idling policy

Educate drivers how much money is wasted and pollution is created through the average 5 minute idle

Walk/Bike/Skate/Car Pool to School Competition Discourage driving alone (or riding alone

in parent’s car)

Specific Products Audit Disposable plastic water bottles Copy paper Paper plates Plastic cups Ream wrappers Food waste

GHS Water Bottle Project Apply similar approach wherever necessary

Measured the problem Surveyed students to get to source of the

problem Blind taste test Educate students, staff, admin, school board Provide alternative (filling stations, cheap

reusables) Eventually, go for the kill shot

Other Projects Local foods Gardening Community Space Recycled Art