Celebrate Earth Day '08
UPDATE Not only did the Discovery Green Team succeed in setting a new Guinness Book record by recycling 657 pounds, they squashed the old record (88 pounds) held by McDonald's! Thanks to every community member who brought by bottles and became part of this historic moment.
No need to adjust your glasses: Our schools are turning green! This Earth Day, Issaquah students and staff are making commitments to not only act in sustainable ways but to spread environmental education to others-resulting in a swelling green mentality that will carry the health of our community and planet into the future.
Specifically, the District's overarching learning goals includes teaching students to:
- Utilize natural resources in an efficient, sustainable way, ensuring the rights of future generations to enjoy a clean and resourceful planet; and
- Recognize how their personal and collective actions impact the environment.
Here are just a few examples of the spirit of Earth Day in Issaquah Schools:
- In honor of Earth Day, the Discovery Elementary "Green Team" will attempt to set a new Guinness World record for the most plastic bottles recycled in an 8-hour period. Help the students beat McDonald's current record by bringing empty plastic bottles to Discovery Elementary, 2300 228th Ave. S.E., Sammamish, on Saturday, April 19, from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m.
- The two teachers leading the Discovery Green Team-SAGE teacher Tasha Kirby and fourth-grade teacher Sue Macnamara-will be honored as
King County Earth Heroes at a ceremony on Thursday, April 24. Colleagues nominated them for their inspirational leadership of the Green Team and its numerous achievements such as implementing: reusable silverware and tableware for classroom celebrations; food waste containers to collect compost for the school's garden; plastic bag recycling; and the "Green Minute," during which the duo updates staff on more eco-friendly practices for work and home.
- Clark Elementary School's Science/Technology classroom has been learning about local water quality by testing Issaquah Creek, visiting Renton's water treatment plant and Issaquah's salmon hatchery, raising 250 Coho fry, removing invasive plants from wild areas, and creating a video to show others how to be environmental stewards. Their studies culminated in an eco-friendly carwash at Front Street Market, during which they raised more than $1,000 for the salmon hatchery and showed customers which carwash products and techniques to use to be environmentally responsible.
- Clark's two Science/Technology teachers-Ellen Ferrin and Liza Rickey-will be honored as King County Earth Heroes at a ceremony on Thursday, April 24. A colleague nominated them for their interactive, hands-on approach to teaching diverse environmental issues to students.
- Eleven Issaquah High students were invited to present their project to reclaim heat from hot shower water to warm an entire house at the American Association of Physics Teachers conference in Baltimore in January. Audience members-including MIT professors and professional physicists from all over the world-were so impressed with the students' idea and mathematical models that they asked the students to write and publish two papers for the Association's journal.
- King County this school year recognized the District and Resource Conservation Manager John Macartney for working to reduce waste, recycle, and conserve energy and water in schools-and for educating students to use the same practices in their homes. Despite adding five buildings and increasing our square footage by 15 percent since 2000, the District has improved recycling in each school, thereby reducing garbage volume by 984 cubic yards and increasing recycling volume by 1,044 cubic yards per year; saved nearly $12,500 in garbage disposal costs annually by reducing, reusing, and recycling; reduced energy use by 12 percent; and reduced water consumption by 33 percent and irrigation by 20 percent.
