GreenStar Schools

Taylor Milestones and Next Steps

June 1 2020

In summary, Taylor Middle School reduced CO₂ emissions during the 2019-2020 school year by implementing a few school-wide processes. 

Summary

All Science teachers taught lessons on recycling, composting, and waste prevention to support students through a transition of adding recycling and compost bins to the cafeteria lunch waste collection.  Also, the food service manager worked with the Taylor Green Team to eliminate the use of polystyrene plastic food containers and replace them with compostable options.  District leadership from the Assistant Superintendent and District Science Coach, who participated in the San Mateo County Office of Education Environmental Literacy Initiative, supported the programs by training custodial staff, and attending ELI meetings.

Three Science classrooms utilized worm bins as a means to compost food scraps as well.  Students and staff fed the worm bins scraps from lunch such as apple cores, banana peels and bread crusts.  After cutting tomatoes (fresh from the Taylor Garden), cilantro and peppers for a salsa party, scraps were fed to the worms.  A group of students planted a succulent garden on campus and compost from one worm bin was used to enrich the soil.

Another program that was just getting underway when Distance Learning began was the Utensil-free Wednesday Program, initiated by a Taylor 7th grade student, and supported by the Taylor Student Leadership Class as well as Food Service Management.  Students were encouraged to bring reusable utensils such as spoons, forks or chopsticks from home, and the cafeteria agreed to not give out plastic utensils.  Unfortunately, Shelter-in-Place happened before the program could get up and running regularly.  Next steps will be implementing the program every Wednesday as a larger Waste-free Wednesdays initiative to start the 2020-2021 school year. 

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