School District: Kent
School Location: Covington
Began participating in the Green Schools Program: December 2011

Level One of the Green Schools Program: Achieved in May 2012
Level Two of the Green Schools Program: Achieved in April 2013
Level Three of the Green Schools Program: Achieved in May 2015
2015-16 Sustaining Green School: Achieved in May 2016

Sustaining green school – 2015-16

• In November 2015, there was a school-wide effort to pick up litter on the school campus. Students collected and sorted 4,866 pieces of litter into recycling or garbage bins. School staff reminded students about the environmental importance of picking up litter and making sure waste is placed in a garbage or recycling bin, not on the ground. Students were rewarded by staff members for voluntarily picking up litter on school grounds.
• For Earth Day, in April 2016, the school conducted its second school-wide clean-up and found 3,163 pieces of litter, which is 1,703 pieces less than the November clean-up.
• The school posted signs at all light switches to remind everyone to turn lights off when not in use.
• At all water faucets, signs were posted about conserving water.

Waste reduction and recycling (level one)

• Covington Elementary has maintained a recycling rate of 43 percent since joining the program in December 2011.
• Students have learned to empty milk cartons and place them in recycling containers in their classrooms where they eat lunch.
• Covington regularly promoted the importance of the school’s waste reduction and recycling practices during assemblies and in morning announcements.
• Recycling containers were set out for special events such as community clean up days and school dances.
• To reduce paper towel waste, tables and desks in the classrooms were wiped down with reusable rags after lunch. The rags were then washed and used again.
• Custodian Janice Jardine supported the school’s recycling efforts by emptying hallway recycling containers and by monitoring the outdoor collection containers.
• The principal gave staff BPA-free reusable bottles and encouraged them to fill reusable bottles with water instead of buying bottled water.
• To reduce paper use, the school switched to electronic distribution of staff bulletins, parent newsletters, calendars and other announcements.
• The office staff reused printer paper that was used on one side.
• To reduce paper copies and handouts, teachers were encouraged to use smart boards and document cameras, and students to take notes in their spiral notebooks.
• In 2012-13, students created paper reuse boxes for all classrooms that requested a box for paper that’s only been used on one side.
• The principal made announcements about recycling several times throughout the school year.
• In November 2012, the school received the King County waste reduction and recycling assembly to help educate students and staff.
• ASB students volunteered as lunch monitors to help inform students how to sort materials after lunch.
• Students created three-dimensional posters that include recyclable materials, and the posters were placed throughout the school in January 2013.
• In 2014, the student Green Team conducted classroom presentations about waste reduction and recycling, and spent a week helping younger students practice sorting lunch waste into the proper containers.

Energy conservation (level two)

• Students posted signs near light switches and electrical equipment to remind staff and students to turn them off when not in use.
• Student Green Team members provided energy conservation tips for the monthly school newsletter.
• Staff made morning announcements about conserving energy throughout 2012-13.
• Teachers posted an energy monitor checklist in classrooms as a reminder to turn off lights and electronic equipment at the end of each day.
• Teachers were encouraged to assign a student to serve as an energy monitor for each classroom.
• Computers in the computer lab were logged off and monitors turned off after every use. The computers were shut down at the end of every day.
• Classroom doors were kept closed to conserve heat.
• Instead of turning on all the classroom lights, many teachers opened classroom blinds to use natural light. At the end of the day, the blinds were closed to conserve heat.
• Custodian Jardine regularly checked the building to ensure that energy conservation measures were in place. As needed, Jardine sent emails to staff members to remind them to turn off lights and equipment.
• The principal made announcements throughout the school year to remind students to dress appropriately for the weather.

Water conservation and pollution prevention (level three)

• Water conservation tips were shared monthly in the school newsletter, the PTA newsletter, and the PTA website, as well as at staff meetings.
• Students participated in the Kent Watershed Festival in March 2014.
• Fourth-grade students went on a field trip to a King County wastewater treatment plant.
• Sixth-grade curriculum included a unit on watersheds and water conservation. Students used what they learned to create water conservation signs and posted them near school faucets.
• Students read “A Long Walk to Water” to learn about emergency preparedness and water shortages throughout the world.
• School faucets were censored and set to automatically shut off when not in use.
• To conserve water, the school installed 14 waterless urinals.

For more information about the school’s conservation achievements and participation in the Green Schools Program, contact:

Catie Larsen, teacher
Catie.Larsen@kent.k12.wa.us

Sandra DeMarre, building and operations supervisor, Kent School District
Sandy.DeMarre@kent.k12.wa.us