Reeds Road Green Team Background: The idea to register and ...
Reeds Road Green Team
Background: The idea to register and participate in Sustainable Jersey for Schools was championed by several staff members who were professionally and personally involved in environmental education and other activities related to sustainability. They knew that this initiative would be a great fit for Reeds Road Elementary School and approached the administration about the program in October 2015. Since then we have teamed up with Sustainable Jersey School Board Association, Barbra Fielder- Galloway Township Sustainability Chief Officer, and Steven Boilli- Galloway Township Public Schools Operations Manager/ Energy Education Specialist. Demonstrating their support, the Board of Education passed a resolution. Participation in the Sustainable Jersey for Schools Certification Program started on January 8, 2016. Reeds Road Elementary School registered with Sustainable Jersey for School on December 10, 2015 and the Green Team was officially created on December 15, 2015. The Green Team was appointed January 4, 2016.
Members: The establishment of the Green Team began December 15, 2015. The entire school was invited to join the team. Our team consisted of 38 official members, but everyone in the building participated in helping Reeds Road Go Green and become Sustainable. The overall goal of the team was for Reeds Road School to “Go Green” and become a sustainable school by educating the students and staff on sustainable initiatives. Not surprisingly, everyone showed interest in the program goal and was ready to offer talent and energy to the school’s improvement. The GTEA union appointed the key members of the Green Team in January 2016. The letter announcing these key members was presented to staff in April 2016.
Meetings: While waiting for preliminary steps to be completed and a Green Team to be developed and appointed, a core of future team members were already working with the administration to inventory school sustainability actions in progress, identify priorities, and begin registration. February 3, 1015- First official meeting agenda: Introduction, over-view of Sustainable Jersey for Schools, program materials presented, explanation of goals/priorities, deadlines and actions introduced, form action teams/ sub-committees created (actions, grant proposal) February 25, 2016- Meeting agenda: Explain Green Fair April 22, 2016, showcase sustainability efforts, declare Earth Day door decorating contest ( use reusable materials), T-shirt contest for Bubba Goes
Green for students introduced, Volunteers for bulletin boards assigned, hallway displays created, community organizations contacted, and Recycled art projects determined. March 1, 2016- Meeting agenda: Discuss $2,000 grant for composting, promote the of use brown bags for compost and add leaves, discuss School Wide Earth Day Assembly in April and Green Fair after school, Report from ACUA on recycling, Professional Development for Sustainable Jersey given by Ro Goldberg and Barbra Fielder. April 5, 2016- Earth Day Assembly: Act lineup, students and staff participating in songs, poems, plays, and PSA broadcast on becoming sustainable. Trash to Treasure April 12th updates and display throughout the school building. Recycled Decorated Doors look great! May 2, 2016- Agenda: Trash to Treasure was a huge success!!! We had a great turnout by students, community and staff. We had a nice article written by The Current, our local paper. Earth Day Assembly was amazing! It was great to see the entire school participate in songs, plays, poems, and PSA broadcast to inform, educate, and have fun with sustainability. May 24, 2016- Agenda: Composing is going well. All students have been educated on how and what to compost. Each Unit is bringing discarded food from the cafeteria to the compost bins in the back of the building. The students are truly enjoying this project. Team talks about how successful our projects have been and the overwhelming support from staff, students, and the community. June-July (tentative) - Small group will meet up to discuss actions and submit information August (tentative) - Summer gathering: updates, submission report, celebration of inaugural year accomplishments and reflections, goals and actions, tentative meeting dates for 2016-2017.
Green Team Accomplishments: As the guiding force in our school’s rededication to sustainable practice, the Green Team is excited to report the accomplishments of its inaugural year. The school teamed up with local Galloway Township Sustainable Chief Officer, Barbra Fielder, our community, our Galloway Township School Board of Education, students and staff throughout the district as well as collaboration with Atlantic County Utilities Authority.
Develop staff wellness activities Incorporate more healthy food choice during our class lessons Involve students in sustainability issues Encourage school wide Earth Day activities Schedule Mr. B’s Backyard classroom tours Institute cafeteria composting Initiate recycling campaign at our school Provide professional development for teachers and staff
Promote fundraising to purchase sustainable projects Trash to Treasure Promote physical activity during the day in classrooms Wellness Fair Green Fair
Progress and Priorities: We are very pleased with our progress this year. With many busy schedules, our team met at least once a month. In some cases several members joined together to oversee an action.
Sustainable Goals: 1.
Staff members will bring their own coffee mugs to school.
2.
Students and Staff will bring their own water bottles and fill them up in the water fountains.
3.
Teachers will use newspaper as backing paper for bulletin boards.
4.
Each teacher will use 50% less lamination paper.
5. All lights will be turned off when classroom is not in use. Teachers will try to keep one light off when teaching and use natural light. 6.
Teachers will use reusable trays for art projects.
7.
Teachers will instruct students on recycling, reusing, and reducing.
8.
Teachers will instruct on water and energy conservation.
9.
All cafeteria waste will be composted.
10.
All classrooms will recycle daily.
11.
Teachers will receive PD on sustainability topics.
12.
We will focus on School Beautification both inside and outside the school.
13.
Reeds Road will focus on becoming a Silver Level Sustainable School.
14.
Physical Activity will be promoted.
15.
Wellness for teachers will be promoted.
Background: The idea to register and participate in Sustainable Jersey for Schools was championed by several staff members who were professionally and personally involved in environmental education and other activities related to sustainability. They knew that this initiative would be a great fit for Reeds Road Elementary School and approached the administration about the program in October 2015. Since then we have teamed up with Sustainable Jersey School Board Association, Barbra Fielder- Galloway Township Sustainability Chief Officer, and Steven Boilli- Galloway Township Public Schools Operations Manager/ Energy Education Specialist. Demonstrating their support, the Board of Education passed a resolution. Participation in the Sustainable Jersey for Schools Certification Program started on January 8, 2016. Reeds Road Elementary School registered with Sustainable Jersey for School on December 10, 2015 and the Green Team was officially created on December 15, 2015. The Green Team was appointed January 4, 2016.
Members: The establishment of the Green Team began December 15, 2015. The entire school was invited to join the team. Our team consisted of 38 official members, but everyone in the building participated in helping Reeds Road Go Green and become Sustainable. The overall goal of the team was for Reeds Road School to “Go Green” and become a sustainable school by educating the students and staff on sustainable initiatives. Not surprisingly, everyone showed interest in the program goal and was ready to offer talent and energy to the school’s improvement. The GTEA union appointed the key members of the Green Team in January 2016. The letter announcing these key members was presented to staff in April 2016.
Meetings: While waiting for preliminary steps to be completed and a Green Team to be developed and appointed, a core of future team members were already working with the administration to inventory school sustainability actions in progress, identify priorities, and begin registration. February 3, 1015- First official meeting agenda: Introduction, over-view of Sustainable Jersey for Schools, program materials presented, explanation of goals/priorities, deadlines and actions introduced, form action teams/ sub-committees created (actions, grant proposal) February 25, 2016- Meeting agenda: Explain Green Fair April 22, 2016, showcase sustainability efforts, declare Earth Day door decorating contest ( use reusable materials), T-shirt contest for Bubba Goes
Green for students introduced, Volunteers for bulletin boards assigned, hallway displays created, community organizations contacted, and Recycled art projects determined. March 1, 2016- Meeting agenda: Discuss $2,000 grant for composting, promote the of use brown bags for compost and add leaves, discuss School Wide Earth Day Assembly in April and Green Fair after school, Report from ACUA on recycling, Professional Development for Sustainable Jersey given by Ro Goldberg and Barbra Fielder. April 5, 2016- Earth Day Assembly: Act lineup, students and staff participating in songs, poems, plays, and PSA broadcast on becoming sustainable. Trash to Treasure April 12th updates and display throughout the school building. Recycled Decorated Doors look great! May 2, 2016- Agenda: Trash to Treasure was a huge success!!! We had a great turnout by students, community and staff. We had a nice article written by The Current, our local paper. Earth Day Assembly was amazing! It was great to see the entire school participate in songs, plays, poems, and PSA broadcast to inform, educate, and have fun with sustainability. May 24, 2016- Agenda: Composing is going well. All students have been educated on how and what to compost. Each Unit is bringing discarded food from the cafeteria to the compost bins in the back of the building. The students are truly enjoying this project. Team talks about how successful our projects have been and the overwhelming support from staff, students, and the community. June-July (tentative) - Small group will meet up to discuss actions and submit information August (tentative) - Summer gathering: updates, submission report, celebration of inaugural year accomplishments and reflections, goals and actions, tentative meeting dates for 2016-2017.
Green Team Accomplishments: As the guiding force in our school’s rededication to sustainable practice, the Green Team is excited to report the accomplishments of its inaugural year. The school teamed up with local Galloway Township Sustainable Chief Officer, Barbra Fielder, our community, our Galloway Township School Board of Education, students and staff throughout the district as well as collaboration with Atlantic County Utilities Authority.
Develop staff wellness activities Incorporate more healthy food choice during our class lessons Involve students in sustainability issues Encourage school wide Earth Day activities Schedule Mr. B’s Backyard classroom tours Institute cafeteria composting Initiate recycling campaign at our school Provide professional development for teachers and staff
Promote fundraising to purchase sustainable projects Trash to Treasure Promote physical activity during the day in classrooms Wellness Fair Green Fair
Progress and Priorities: We are very pleased with our progress this year. With many busy schedules, our team met at least once a month. In some cases several members joined together to oversee an action.
Sustainable Goals: 1.
Staff members will bring their own coffee mugs to school.
2.
Students and Staff will bring their own water bottles and fill them up in the water fountains.
3.
Teachers will use newspaper as backing paper for bulletin boards.
4.
Each teacher will use 50% less lamination paper.
5. All lights will be turned off when classroom is not in use. Teachers will try to keep one light off when teaching and use natural light. 6.
Teachers will use reusable trays for art projects.
7.
Teachers will instruct students on recycling, reusing, and reducing.
8.
Teachers will instruct on water and energy conservation.
9.
All cafeteria waste will be composted.
10.
All classrooms will recycle daily.
11.
Teachers will receive PD on sustainability topics.
12.
We will focus on School Beautification both inside and outside the school.
13.
Reeds Road will focus on becoming a Silver Level Sustainable School.
14.
Physical Activity will be promoted.
15.
Wellness for teachers will be promoted.
