Sustainable Schools
Our Team’s Vision for Sustainable Schools in Portsmouth: To encourage in practice what the students are learning in their classrooms and on field trips regarding all sustainable topics (Energy, Transportation, Food, Waste and Community Involvement)
1. Recycle paper
a. Measure current participation and ability to complete the cycle
b. Results monitored and measured by each schools participation in the NRRA (Northeastern Resource Recover Assistance)
c. Resources needed
i. Paper recycle totes (larger size usually kept outside)
ii. Recycle green bins in every classroom
iii. Commitment from Janitors/Principal at each school
iv. parent support at elementary level
v. leadership team at PMS
d. Groups already involved
i. NFS completes the cycle
ii. PHS completes the cycle
e. Synergize ‘everyone’ to achieve action by providing realistic goals and making a commitment for each school to join the NRRA. Work through the Wellness Committee and NH Healthy Schools
f. Impact
i. Environment – less waste in the landfill
ii. Economic – decrease waste that needs to be contracted to pick up
iii. Social – provide a measurable program throughout the district that the kids can participate in and be a successful partner in the larger community
2. Remove Styrofoam trays from each lunch room
a. Measure how many Styrofoam trays are used currently
b. Results of the action montirored by each lunch room organization
c. Resources needed is grant funding to provide compostable trays
d. Groups already involved
i. Climate Committee at NFS
ii. John Stokel at PMS
iii. ECO club at PHS
iv. Students at RJL
v. Wellness at LHS
vi. Student Leadership at Dondero
e. Syndergize ‘everyone’ to achieve this action by presenting idea at district wide Wellness Committee meeting and also NH Healthy Schools Committee
f. Impact
i. Environment – less waste in landfill
ii. Economic – support sustainable materials
iii. Social – support ideas taught in schools as socially responsible and provide a project for the kids to participate in and support their community
3. A garden at each school
a. Does the school have a garden and what do they use it for?
b. Results measured by how much of the harvest makes it into the lunchroom for the kids
c. Resources need
i. Parent support
ii. Summer participation
iii. Water source
iv. Contact in the lunch room to use produce from garden
d. Already involved
i. Perrin Long and the Culinary Program at PHS
ii. Garden beds at Dondero
iii. Garden beds at LHS
iv. Decorative garden beds and composter at RJL
v. Decorative gardens at PMS
vi. Climate Committee at NFS is motivated to start garden
e. Synergize ‘everyone’ by:
i. Providing grant information
ii. Connect with Food group on community garden potential at each school property
iii. Introduce idea at District Wide Wellness Committee and NH Healthy Schools Committee
f. Impact
i. Environmental – eating local saves energy and increases nutritional value of food
ii. Economic – food production cost is cheaper than buying fresh veg/fruit from co-op
iii. Social – support kids understanding of where their food comes from and their ability to help out in their community
Sustainable Schools
Vision: Sustainable Schools will never say it won’t work. Sustainable Schools want to encourage in practice what the students are learning in their classrooms and on field trips. If someone walks through a Portsmouth School door with and idea – We are here to listen.
Elementary
1. Successful paper recycling programs
2. Research ongoing to eliminate styrofoam trays in the lunch room
3. Try it days in the lunch room to encourage knowledge of food sources
4. Garden ideas in every school
5. Garden harvest used in the lunch room
6. Composting bins that are not fully used
7. Historical programs of weighing waste and creating competition between the grades in the lunch room
Middle
1. Wish to eliminate styrofoam trays
2. Separating trash in the lunch room
3. Paper recycling in every room – is the cycle completed?
4. Semester study on sustainability spring 2009
High School
1. ECO Club to partiicpate in Sustainability Fair
2. Energy Saving signs around the building
3. Garden and compost used by Culinary Arts program
4. Successful paper recycling program
5. Successful plastic bottle recycling program
6. ECO club would like to eliminate Styrofoam trays
Robert J. Lister Academy
Sustainability as a semester seminar in Science class. An interesting experiment in partner teaching and formatting an entire curriculum around the science of sustainability.
1. Energy and Transport
2. Zero Waste
Community Guest Speakers: Silke Psula, Rian Beddard and Karina Quintans
3. Local Food
4. Community Involvement (interwoven throughout the semester)
1. Dishwasher in the kitchen
2. Real mugs and bowls used at breakfast
3. Kids have chores to load and wash dishes
4. Waste separation day for zero waste study
5. Rotating composter built last year
6. Wish to eliminate Styrofoam trays
There is a strong interest in partnering with a Community Garden Group.
People we contacted:
Steve Zadravec – Asst Superintendent
George Shea – Princicpal New Franklin
John Stokel – Principal Middle School
Dee Barrett and Kim McGlinchey – ECO Club at High School
Perrin Long – Culinary Arts at High School
Jen Bell – Parent at Dondero
Jen Wilhelm – Philips Exeter Academy
Bryan Mascio – Science at Robert J Lister Academy