"Small Steps"

Small Steps

Recently, Caleb Greenwood K-8 School in East Sacramento has began making small steps in educating the students, staff, & families about ways to help our earth. The “Green Team” had their first successful project in December ’09 which focused on the 3 “R’s” (Reduce, Reuse, & Recycle). K-5 grade students made holiday ornaments out of used CD’s that were decorated with the recycling logo. The “CD’s” ornaments were then sold for $1 @ Caleb’s annual Holiday Pancake Breakfast and Run. All proceeds were to raise money for future “Green” programs for the school, like the upcoming Worm Composting Assembly that is scheduled for February 24th, 2010. The Earth Day Festival/Activities is scheduled for the month of April 2010.

The Earth Day Festival will be partnering with various community organizations and businesses to help promote & strengthen “Green” efforts for Caleb Greenwood students. For example, to launch the Earth Day program we have invited the City of Sacramento to come & discuss what happens to household waste after it leaves the recycling and/or garbage bins.

Caleb’s “Green Team” projects also hopes to build a bridge with the Sacramento Unified School District by assisting with some of the goals as laid out in the school districts strategic plans of 2010. First, as Policy priority #4 .2 goal suggests; “Strengthen partnerships with community-based organizations & agencies to enhance social, emotional, & physical safety of students.”, the Caleb “Green Team” are as in the examples above working towards this policy (I.e.- City of Sacramento). Another part of working towards this goal will be accomplished by an Educational Garden that Caleb Greenwood is beginning. This garden will enhance each students’ direct relationship within the social network of their school peers, neighbors, & community at large. As told by the Garden of Learning founder Kelli Wessman “A well structured garden program benefits children in many ways: Develops a true cooperative spirit as children work together toward a common goal.” And, the garden, on an emotional level “provides for children a respite from the busy school life by allowing children to focus on a task in a smaller, quieter setting (source:http://www.calrecycle.ca.gov/Publications/Schools/56001007.PDF, pg.37).”

Second, as Policy Priority # 4.4 goal reads “Implement energy effeminacy strategies to reduce our energy consumption.” By having a worm composting at our school we can help reduce energy consumption by reducing the waste stream as well as cutting disposal costs. Third, for Policy Priority # 6.1 states “Provide informational technical assistance, training, & other supports necessary to assist district schools in planning & implementing effective parent engagement activities to improve student achievement.” This “Green Team’ can work together with the school district by incorporating activities, such as recycling that are known to improve student achievement.

“The practical nature of recycling is also a way in which children at all levels can 'enjoy and achieve', for example by designing an effective recycling scheme and learning about the properties of different materials while they sort them for recycling.” (RecycleNow Schools website).

Caleb Greenwood’s “Green” Committee would like to invite the Sacramento School Unified School District to improve efforts in making a change in how our schools can implement waste reduction and by doing so will “benefit by:

Reduced disposal costs.
Improved worker safety.
Reduced long-term liability.
Increased efficiency of school operations.
Decreased associated purchasing costs. (http://www.calrecycle.ca.gov/ReduceWaste/Schools/#Why).

Finally, as the State’s California Recycle Program states “California school districts dispose of large amounts of waste (approximately 763,817 tons per year) [1]. These wastes represent a significant loss of natural resources and school district funds, as well as a potential threat to student/staff health and the environment. To be responsible stewards of environmental quality, school districts should review processes and operations, and even curriculum choices.” (www.calrecycle.ca.gov). Like the Caleb “Green Team” is doing, let all of us in the Sacramento Unified School District take small steps to help prove to be a successful program in forging a Waste Reduction Program.

Please join us in taking these steps. Please contact Caleb’s “Green Team” Committee Chair @ kjfelix73@hotmail.com or 916-595-5564.

Let’s make small steps together!

Sincerely,
Kim J. Felix