School District: Bellevue
School Location: Bellevue
Began participating in the Green Schools Program: September 2008

Level One of the Green Schools Program: Achieved in June 2009
Level Two of the Green Schools Program: Achieved in June 2010
Level Three of the Green Schools Program: Achieved in April 2011

Waste reduction and recycling

• Lake Hills Elementary reduced garbage pickups and increased its recycling rate from 43 percent to 69 percent.
• The City of Bellevue partnered with the Green Schools Program to assist Bellevue schools with recycling improvements.
• In 2008-09, recycling containers were added to classrooms, offices and the cafeteria and school staff placed a recycling sticker that lists what can and can’t be recycled on each recycling container.

• In 2009-10, a food scrap recycling program was started in the cafeteria. To promote the new program, students created posters about food scrap composting.
• In order to reduce paper use, Lake Hills Elementary made the following changes:
• Instituted and promoted a double sided copying policy.
• Used e-mail communication instead of printed sheets as much as possible.
• Increased use of smart boards in classrooms.
• Reduced unwanted mail by requesting removal of the school from mailing lists.
• In 2010-11, the school participated in a pilot program to use compostable trays and was able to divert an estimated 800 trays from the landfill each month.
• Two second grade classes participated in the “recycling basics” workshop.
• To educate students and staff on what is and is not recyclable, the school signed up for a waste reduction and recycling assembly.

Energy conservation

• All classrooms, offices and cafeteria have stickers on light switches to remind staff and students to turn off lights when they leave each room.
• Morning announcements were made about ways to conserve energy.
• Teachers were encouraged to use available natural lighting, turn off classroom smart boards during lunch and preparation periods and turn heat down in classrooms.

Environmental education

• The school conducted a weekly “Green Tip” raffle during morning announcements.
• Classrooms participated in waste reduction and recycling workshops, and the whole school learned about conservation at the Earth Challenge assembly.
• Students planted trees for Arbor Day and participated in Earth Day activities.
• A visiting local chef provided vegetable garden education.

Water conservation

• Fourth graders used the City of Bellevue’s water conservation curriculum materials.
• The green team used the water conservation resource tub from the City of Bellevue.
• Three fourth grade classes participated in the nature vision workshop “healthy water systems.”
• Students placed “turn water off” stickers by sinks throughout the school.
• The Girl Scout troop No. 42828 assisted in outreach about water conservation.

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

Lake Hills Elementary School
425-456-5300