School District: Tahoma
School Location: Maple Valley
Began participating in the Green Schools Program: October 2007

Level One of the Green Schools Program: Achieved in December 2009
Level Two of the Green Schools Program: Achieved in April 2012
Level Three of the Green Schools Program: Achieved in May 2013
2014-2015 Sustaining Green School: Achieved in May 2015
2015-2016 Sustaining Green School: Achieved in May 2016

Sustaining green school – 2015-2016

• Tahoma Middle School sustained its Level One waste reduction and recycling practices, Level Two energy conservation practices, and Level Three water conservation strategies.
• The school continued to participate in the People, Power, Planet Program to encourage energy conservation practices. The school earned 23 percent power points by conducting classroom energy audits, creating educational posters and displaying quotes about energy conservation, and collecting 2,500 energy conservation pledges from students.
• Green Team students created posters to remind the students and staff about what can and can’t be recycled, and continued to collect and empty classroom recycling bins.
• The Green Team created and placed a G.O.O.S (good on one side) box in each classroom to encourage students to use G.O.O.S. paper.

Sustaining green school – 2014-2015

• Tahoma Middle School sustained its Level One waste reduction and recycling practices, Level Two energy conservation practices, and Level Three water conservation strategies.
• In 2014-15, Tahoma Middle School participated in McKinstry's People, Power, Planet Program focused on energy conservation. To earn power points, the Green Team made all-school announcements about energy conservation facts and practices, conducted two energy audits, and ensured that a “Turn off the lights when leaving the room” sticker was placed on every light switch.
• The school decreased energy use by 4 percent. A Green Team bulletin board displayed the energy savings, and results were shared with the school community.

Waste reduction and recycling (level one)

• Tahoma Middle School increased its recycling rate from 20 percent in 2007 to 46 percent in 2015 by expanding and improving waste reduction and recycling practices.
• School staff initiated a lunchroom recycling program for milk cartons, aluminum cans and plastic bottles.
• By adding lunchroom food scrap collection in 2011, the school’s recycling rate increased and its monthly garbage volume decreased.
• Green Team students were trained on what can and can’t be collected for recycling and composting.
• Staff added recycling and food scrap collection containers to the staff lounge in 2012.
• At the beginning of each school year, students are educated about proper recycling practices and staff is trained in a staff meeting presentation.
• Green Team students made quarterly presentations about recycling, reducing waste, and conserving resources at the seventh grade assemblies throughout 2012-13.
• Students placed recycling stickers listing what can and can’t be recycled on all recycling containers.
• The school implemented a box and envelope reuse program for the school district. Manila envelopes and cardboard boxes were saved and sent back to the district for reuse.
• Staff and students created posters demonstrating the school’s waste reduction, reuse, and recycling efforts. Posters were judged and the winning posters were displayed in local businesses.
• Students created a video about not littering and held a weekly patrol to pick up litter around school grounds.
• In 2010, all students and staff set recycling goals that were incorporated in a pledge printed on recycled paper for each person. Pledge certificates were posted throughout the school. After completing a pledge, each student received a reusable water bottle that serves as a helpful reminder to conserve and recycle at school. The project ended with an Earth Day assembly at which the school celebrated its successes and pledged to continue efforts to shrink the school’s carbon footprint.
• During 2012-13, as part of a district-wide initiative to promote waste reduction, reuse and recycling, Tahoma Middle School began Waste Free Wednesdays and held a Waste Free Week during Earth Week in April 2013. To reduce waste on Wednesdays, the lunchroom served food that does not require utensils or napkins.
• In 2014-15, the school began recycling printer cartridges.
• Reminders about conservation were sent to staff before school breaks.

Energy conservation (level two)

• Green Team members announced ways to conserve energy to the student body via all school announcements once a week.
• Signs were posted on light switches and near electronic equipment to encourage staff and students to turn off lights and equipment when not in use.
• All personal appliances such as heaters, refrigerators and coffee makers were removed from offices and classrooms.
• Staff, students and parents we re informed about the school’s energy use through the principal’s newsletter and student announcements.
• Students and staff used daylight instead of electric lights when possible, and occupancy sensors were installed in frequently used rooms to reduce energy consumption.
• Students planted seeds and created an edible garden to educate others about conserving energy and other resources by growing food.

Water conversation and pollution prevention (level three)

• The school installed a water bottle refilling station during the summer of 2012. Students posted signs to encourage reusable water bottles and to recycle disposable plastic bottles.
• Green Team members shared ways to conserve water with the student body through weekly bulletin board posters and afternoon announcements.
• Students posted signs at sinks as reminders to conserve water by turning off the faucet when not in use.
• During Earth Week 2013, students signed pledges to reduce their eco-footprint. Quotes from the pledges were displayed on the Green Team bulletin board.
• In the fall of 2011, the school installed a rain garden with drought-tolerant native plants. Students consistently maintained and weeded the garden.
• Seventh grade students visited the Washington State University storm water research center in Puyallup. To share their knowledge with the school community, students created a video presentation about storm water and how to reduce storm water in their communities.
• Students attended a day-long storm water research center presentation in Maple Valley in spring of 2013. They calculated storm water drainage and created a teaching model that included reflective components and that was shared with Tahoma Middle School students.
• Students designed and carried out an experiment to test for leaky faucets. They made recommendations to improve water conservation after reporting their results.
• In 2009, as part of an Earth Day activity aimed at engaging students in reducing their carbon footprints, the student body raised money for 13 trees by selling Earth Day t-shirts. Office manager Linda Clarke organized 25 Green Team students and five staff members to plant the trees, which were purchased from the Buckley Nursery.

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

Samantha Pairis, teacher
Email: spairis@tahomasd.us

Paul Gardner, assistant principal
Email: pgardner@tahomasd.us