Success story: Phantom Lake Elementary School
School District: Bellevue
School Location: Bellevue
Began participating in the Green Schools Program: September 2009
Level One of the Green Schools Program: Achieved in May 2010
Level Two of the Green Schools Program: Achieved in April 2011
Level Three of the Green Schools Program: Achieved in April 2012
Waste reduction and recycling (level one)
- The City of Bellevue partnered with the Green Schools Program to assist Bellevue schools with recycling improvements.
- All classrooms, offices and the cafeteria have recycling containers.
- Students created signs and posted them in classrooms to help students know what to recycle.
- Tips about recycling were shared on the school’s daily news broadcast.
- Milk cartons are recycled in the cafeteria and students stack trays in the cafeteria to reduce garbage volume.
- Morning announcements include recycling information and reminders, and an email was sent to all staff to encourage them to recycle.
- The school recycles its printer cartridges.
- A recycling assembly was held in April 2010 emphasizing Earth Day, recycling and the value of conservation.
- To conserve paper, parents receive the school newsletter through email.
- Teachers use both sides of each piece of paper, make double–sided photocopies and use the backs of chart paper at staff meetings.
- Phantom Lake began to compost all food scraps during the winter of 2010-11, with assistance from the City of Bellevue.
- A student group monitored lunchroom recycling stations and conducted an outreach campaign.
- The school increased its recycling rate from 50 percent to 53 percent.
- Two second grade classes participated in the “healthy habitat” workshop.
- Staff invited City of Bellevue to set up a recycling/waste reduction booth at its science fair.
- In 2011-12, the school participated in the City of Bellevue’s resource conservation assembly and placed new stickers listing what can and can’t be recycled on all recycling containers.
Environmental education
- Two classrooms take care of four outdoor planter boxes.
- At Phantom Lake Elementary, students are encouraged to care for the earth.
Energy conservation (level two)
- Students placed energy conservation labels near all light switches and electrical equipment in the school.
- Students checked computers and lights to make sure they are turned off when not in use.
- Staff invited City of Bellevue to set up the Carbon Yeti booth at its science fair to promote energy and water conservation.
- The school created an energy conservation pledge.
- Students announced green tips during morning announcements.
- During the winter months, students and staff were encouraged to dress appropriately for the season through reminders in morning announcements, teacher classroom announcements and classroom newsletters.
- The school added conservation tips to its website.
Water conservation and pollution prevention (level three)
- Two fourth grade classes participated in Nature Vision’s “healthy water systems” workshop.
- The City of Bellevue was invited to set up its poo-lution booth at the science fair to promote proper disposal of pet waste.
- Two fifth grade classes participated in Nature Vision’s “Healthy Water Systems” workshop.
- Classes received the “Water Cycle Game.”
- Two classes participated in the City of Bellevue’s “Healthy Habitat” workshop.
- The green team used the water conservation resource tub materials from the City of Bellevue.
- The City of Bellevue set up a booth about conservation at the school’s science fair.
- Water conservation and other resource conservation topics were covered in morning announcements.
- Fourth grade students went on a field trip to a local watershed.
For more information about the school’s conservation achievements and participation in the Green Schools Program, contact:
Phantom Lake Elementary School
425-456-5600