GreenStar Schools

Baywood Changemakers in Action!

July 21 2020

"Office of Sustainability launched our work with a 4 Rs assembly, and helped us build common language and practices. During the assembly, Esme emphasized the "why" and connected our work to Baywood's "changemaker" model. Students left the assembly feeling motivated to create change at our school and to have a positive impact on the environment." - Deb Robert, Assistant Principal

Summary

The Green Team officially launched our waste sorting program at lunch after the school-wide waste reduction kick-off assembly on Oct. 21, 2019. Rethink Waste partners trained Green Team students on sorting dos and donts. All sorting stations include a landfill bin, a compost bin, a recycling bin, a liquid bucket and a tray bin. On the first day of sorting, students reduced our garbage production to 1 bag of garbage per (eating area; there are 3) from 3 per eating area. That was a reduction of 18 bags total to 3 per day. Rethink Waste partners and the Office of Sustainability were on-site everyday during the first week to help supervise and train student Green Team volunteers. Parents also volunteered during lunch. 

After the assembly we put sign-up posters up in the MPR for interested 3rd-5th grade students to help with sorting at lunch. We had an astonishing number of students sign up - over 60! Because students were motivated by Green Team in all grade levels, we launched a Junior Green Team for first and second grade students, and have since had about 75 students participate total!

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