School District: Bellevue
School Location: Clyde Hill
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 school increased its recycling rate from 43 percent to 45 percent.
• The school created a Green Team comprised of staff, students, administration and interested parent volunteers.
• The City of Bellevue partnered with the Green Schools Program to assist Bellevue schools with recycling improvements.
• Students made presentations to classrooms about recycling. The school distributed pencils made from recycled materials that were provided by the City of Bellevue.
• Students created posters about recycling.  Recycling also was promoted through morning announcements and an email to staff.
• Students in grades three through five take turns serving as Green Leaders. An assembly was held to educate student Green Leaders who monitor and promote recycling in the cafeteria. Classroom teachers set up a rotation schedule for the Green Leaders to assist with recycling practices at lunch.
• The Green Team organized a Green Week that included a Snack Trash Challenge encouraging students to bring snack items in reusable containers and to have the least amount of trash left over after snack time. Green Week also included a “copy free day” and a challenge in which staff were asked to reduce copying whenever possible.
• The Green Team ensured that each classroom only has one small trash container, instead of two or more, in order to reduce the number of container liners and to help students see how much they can recycle.
• Clyde Hill began to recycle 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.
• Four fifth grade classes participated in a habitat stewardship workshop.
• The school sent Earth Day reminders to students, staff and families during the spring of 2011.
• The PEACE Peer Leaders - a group of about 30 fourth and fifth grade students who have taken on a leadership role at Clyde Hill - conducted recycling and waste reduction skits.
• During 2011-12, the school increased its recycling rate to 52 percent by reducing waste and collecting materials to be recycled and composted.
• Four classes participated in the City of Bellevue’s “Rethink and Reuse” workshop.
• The school participated in the City of Bellevue’s resource conservation assembly.

Energy conservation (level two)

• Students placed energy conservation labels near all light switches and electrical equipment in the school.
• The green team shared at least two energy conservation tips per month via morning announcements which are heard by both staff and students.
• Staff added announcements about energy conservation to the school website.

Water conservation and pollution prevention (level three)

• 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 placed “turn water off” stickers by sinks throughout the school.
• Students created a water conservation slogan and made signs to post throughout the school.
• The green team used the water conservation resource tub materials from the City of Bellevue.
• Fourth grade class went on a field trip to the salmon hatchery.
• Students put up posters throughout the school to promote water conservation.
• Many green team students borrowed shower timers and took the timer challenge of trying to keep their showers at 5 minutes. The students also talked with their families about water conservation.
• Students created a bulletin board with resource conservation tips.

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

Clyde Hill Elementary School
425-456-5000