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)

• Enatai Elementary increased its recycling rate from 43 percent to 48 percent.
• The City of Bellevue partnered with the Green Schools Program to assist Bellevue schools with recycling improvements.
• A Green Team comprised of staff, students, administration and interested parent volunteers was formed.
• To promote recycling practices, students made presentations to classrooms and created posters.
• The Green Team also used morning announcements, an e-mail to staff and posters to promote recycling practices.
• Student Council members placed stickers that list what can and can’t be recycled on all recycling containers.
• The school started to recycle food scraps and other compostable materials in its cafeteria.
• Students also recycle their milk cartons and stack trays to reduce garbage container volume.
• On Earth Day 2010 the school held a paper-less day to promote waste reduction.
• The parent newsletter included an article about conservation.
• The school held a book exchange.
• The school garden was maintained and trees were planted on school grounds.
• A City of Bellevue representative made presentations during lunch about recycling, composting and garbage.
• Staff was challenged to go paperless on March 23 by using white boards, reusing paper, saving junk mail envelopes to use as scrap paper, and to ask students for ideas on how to go paperless.
• Three third grade classes participated in the “recycling basics” workshop.
• In 2011-12, the school participated in the City of Bellevue’s resource conservation assembly, the City of Bellevue presented at all lunches to boost recycling and composting, and the
• City of Bellevue visited an afterschool group to boost recycling.
• Student helpers stand by recycling containers at lunch to help with recycling.

Energy conservation (level two)

• The green team worked with the IT department to try to reset timers of when computers are automatically shut off.
• The green team invited the District Energy and Safety Coordinator to present on energy information at staff meeting.
• From September through December during the 2010-11 school year, Enatai Elementary was able to reduce energy use by 8 percent due to energy conservation practices and reduced heating temperature requirements from the District.
• Students placed energy conservation labels near all light switches in the school.
• Students created an energy conservation patrol to check classrooms when lights and computers should be turned off.
• The green team made bi-weekly announcements to students and staff to share an energy conservation facts and tips.
• The school chose one Wednesday in February 2011 to focus on reducing electricity usage. They saved 8 percent from the previous Wednesday. All the teachers at the school and the office administration helped by turning off a row of lights in their classroom and offices all day.
• The school showed an average reduction of 13 percent in electricity usage for the first two weeks in February 2011 from the previous year.
• Everyone at the school worked together to turn off lights when leaving a room.
• Teachers started a new student classroom job – the light monitor. Light monitors make sure lights are off when everyone leaves the room.
• The green team sent email reminders to staff about conserving energy.

Water conservation (level three)

• During 2010-11, students participated in the City of Bellevue poo-lution workshop about pet waste and storm water pollution and  three fourth grade classes participated in Nature Vision’s “healthy water systems” workshop.
• Four classes participated in the City of Bellevue’s “Healthy Habitat” workshop.
• In 2011-12, the school held the new City of Bellevue poo-lution workshop to teach students about water quality issues.
• To raise awareness about conserving water at school and at home, morning announcements were submitted to the front office and read to the school.
• Students put up posters throughout the school to promote water conservation.
• Arranged for storm drain markers to be placed throughout the school.
• To support World Water Conservation Spirit Day on March 22, 2012, students came to school wearing blue in support of conserving water
• Students placed “turn water off” stickers by sinks throughout the school.
• Parents produced and presented a water conservation assembly for the entire school.

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

Enatai Elementary School
425-456-5200