Cool School Challenger
Cool news for cool schools
Spring 2010 Edition
Welcome to the latest edition of the Cool
School Challenger, a quarterly update on the Cool School Challenge
program.
In this issue:
- By the numbers...1.8 million lbs of CO2 and counting!
- Who's Cool
- Mike Town take a bow!
- Whatcom County to become a Climate Showcase Community
- Your school can be cool and green
- Lights...camera...cool! Check out the latest videos and green
- Our Social Side
- Upcoming Events and Announcements (Grants, Competitions and Resources)
By the numbers...1.8 million lbs of CO2 and counting!
As the 2009-2010 school year winds to a close, we've nearly doubled our potential CO2 reductions. Here are just a few of the amazing highlights achieved to date.
- 1,791,980 lbs of potential CO2 savings reported.
- Nearly 400 teachers/educators trained.
- 200+ schools participating.
Kudos to the following schools, which completed the Challenge this year:
- Artondale Elementary – Gig Harbor, WA
- Hillcrest Elementary -- Everett, WA
- Midway High School – Oak Harbor, WA
- Mountlake Terrace High School – Mountlake Terrace, WA
- Mt. Vernon Christian – Mt. Vernon, WA
- Odyssey Multi-Age – Bainbridge Island, WA
- Redmond High School – Redmond, WA
- Swan School Adventurers – Port Townsend, WA
We welcomed an additional 16 schools to the Challenge, from Kent to Chicago to San Francisco. Check out “Who’s Cool” for a complete list of participating schools, their goals, and results. Did your school participate, but we don't know about it? Let us know with our simple results form!
Hats off to Mike Town, Redmond High School science teacher, for receiving the inaugural Green Prize in Public Education from the NEA Foundation. Mike was selected for this honor for his role in creating the Cool School Challenge, and for his dedication to advancing environmental responsibility and improving student learning.
In his AP environmental science classroom the original idea behind the Cool School Challenge was incubated – and has now grown into a successful climate education program with support from partners Puget Sound Energy and Puget Sound Clean Air Agency.
Congratulations, Mike ~ and on behalf of the Cool School Challenge team: thank you for inspiring students and teachers everywhere to take small steps, and make a big difference.
Read NEA's news release here.
Cool School Challenge will play a role in making Whatcom County a “Climate Showcase Community”
Kudos to the City of Bellingham for being among the first cities in the nation to be recognized as a Climate Showcase Community by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) ~ and for making the Cool School Challenge part of its upcoming Community Energy Challenge (CEC). Supported through funding awarded by the EPA, the CEC will substantially reduce Bellingham/Whatcom County’s consumption of electricity and natural gas by targeting comprehensive, deep efficiency focused programs at both commercial and residential facilities, by reducing the barriers to implementing energy efficiency including financing and an adequate qualified workforce, and by raising awareness of opportunities to conserve energy through community based social marketing, establishing community goals and friendly competition.
Your school can be cool and green with Washington Green Schools
Did you know that by completing the Cool School Challenge, your school is already on its way to becoming a Washington Green School? Assessing your school’s carbon footprint and taking steps to shrink it count toward the requirements of the Washington Green Schools program. So take sustainability at your school to the next level – be cool and green. Find out how at www.wagreenschools.org or by emailing info@wagreenschools.org
We’re producing some spotlight videos to showcase how schools are
getting cool and putting the Challenge in action. See how the students
of Artondale
Elementary and Nooksack
High School made a difference at their
schools by taking the Challenge. These videos and more can be downloaded
via our Youtube Channel: www.youtube.com/coolschoolchallenge
More coming soon!
Would you like access to all our videos, cool tips, latest links we like, and up to date grant information? If so, be sure to connect with our facebook, twitter, and youtube accounts.
Upcoming News and Events (Grants, Competitions and Resources)
Here’s just a small sampling of great opportunities available to integrate climate change, sustainability, and environmental awareness into the classroom. If you know of others, be sure to let us know.
- Funding opportunity: NEA Student Achievement Grants
The NEA Foundation provides grants to improve the academic achievement
of students in U.S. public schools and public higher education institutions
in any subject area(s). The proposed work should engage students
in critical thinking and problem solving that deepen their knowledge
of standards-based subject matter. The work should also improve
students habits of inquiry, self-directed learning, and critical
reflection. Since the Cool School Challenge was recently recognized
by the NEA Foundation, we encourage teachers who have great ideas
for enhancing the program and further engaging students at your
school to apply for funding.
While applications can be submitted anytime, the next review date is June 1, 2010. The grant amount is $5,000. Visit the NEA website for more information.
- New interactive E3 website connects teachers, sustainability programsE3 Washington recently launched its new interactive website, a networking tool designed to connect people with environmental and sustainability education programs offered throughout Washington State. Explore programs (or add your own!) at www.e3washington.org
- Call for teacher ‘coaches’ The Third Annual Green Industrial Business and Career Expo is looking for teachers willing to help coach other teachers in how to conduct green-based learning projects. Participants will receive clock hours, free admission and meals at the next Green Expo scheduled for October 7 and 8 in Seattle. Learn more at www.greenexpo-wa.com
- Cool School Challenge featured in Edutopia "Think Green" resource Looking for ideas to inspire awareness and action in your classroom? Check out Edutopia's new guide, "Think Green: Tips and Resources for Earth-Friendly Learning Projects." Be sure to give Tip #1 a nod.
June 4 Workshop | Seattle teachers: Learn how to start up a composting program at your school Seattle Public Utilities (SPU) invites representatives from Seattle public and private schools to attend this FREE School Compost Workshop! You will learn how to start up and improve school food waste collection programs, and also take a tour of recycling and composting facilities.
- For more information, send an e-mail to Kim@resourcestewards.com
- Please put in the email subject
line: “School Compost Workshop” and include the following information:
- Name of school, and names, positions, phone numbers, and email addresses of attendees.
- Whether your school already has food waste collection.
- Recycle Forward: Raise money for your school by recycling used electronics You can get new technology for your classroom by recycling used electronics and ink cartridges for cash through this innovative program coordinated by Digital Wish. Find out more by visiting their website: http://www.recycleforwardnow.org
- Seattle Shared Savings Plan: Starting in September 2005, the Seattle School District has been compiling and analyzing detailed utility data for each facility, in order to share that data with schools. They felt it was important to reward schools directly for all of their hard work in helping them reach their conservation goals. They developed the Shared Savings Program to give a portion of the savings back to the school so they could continue to support resource conservation projects. In addition to fostering environmental stewardship, resource conservation is an important part of being fiscally responsible. This is a great template for other school districts to adopt!
About the Cool School Challenge Developed by the Puget Sound Clean Air Agency, the Cool School Challenge is a web-based climate education program designed to engage students and teachers in practical strategies to reduce carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gas emissions schoolwide. Program partners now include the Northwest Clean Air Agency, RE Sources for Sustainable Communities, One Earth Solutions and the Washington State Department of Ecology.
