Skip to main content

King County Green Schools program success story: Fairwood Elementary School

Success story: Fairwood Elementary School

School District: Kent
School Location: Kent
Began participating in the Green Schools Program: September 2011

Level One of the Green Schools Program: Achieved in May 2012
Level Two of the Green Schools Program: Achieved in May 2013

Waste reduction and recycling (level one)

  • From September 2011 to April 2013, Fairwood Elementary increased its recycling rate from 29 percent to 48 percent.
  • Thanks to waste reduction and recycling efforts, the school switched from an 8-yard garbage Dumpster to a 6-yard garbage Dumpster and thus decreased cost of garbage collection.
  • Students took ownership of the recycling process by emptying classroom recycling bins into larger hallway recycling containers.
  • Head custodian Jessie Depew helped to educate students about recycling and ensured that collection runs smoothly.
  • Green Team students provided recycling tips through weekly PA announcements.
  • Green Team staff and students promoted waste-free lunches on the school website, in the school newsletter and in regular PA announcements.
  • Bulk condiment dispensers were used in the lunchroom, thus avoiding the waste of individual condiment packets.
Fairwood Elementary School
Fairwood Elementary Green Team students
Fairwood Elementary School
Student-made Green Team badges
  • Trays for paper used only on one side were placed in every classroom, in the school’s main office, and next to all school printers.
  • Announcements describing the school’s waste reduction and recycling efforts were made at a PTSA meeting, during school assemblies, in parent newsletters and in the school building newsletter.
  • Starting in 2011-12, the school newsletter has been sent electronically to reduce paper use.
  • As part of a district-wide decision to reduce waste, the school replaced plastic-wrapped utensils with loose utensils and eliminated straws in the lunchroom.
  • In 2012-13, Fairwood created a “Meaningful Jobs” program that students can apply for and that incorporates Green Team responsibilities such as emptying classroom recycling bins, monitoring lunchroom waste disposal stations, and sharing weekly announcements that educate staff and students about Green School practices.
  • Students created badges to identify themselves as Green Team members.

Energy conservation (level two)

  • In 2012-13, stickers were placed on or near light switches in all classrooms, offices and the cafeteria to remind staff and students to turn off lights when they leave each room.
  • In 2012-13, the school created laminated signs to place on or near electronic equipment to remind staff and students to turn off computers and other equipment when not in use.
  • A student Energy Conservation Patrol reminded each class about ways that it can conserve energy. In addition, in most classrooms these students closed blinds at the end of the day, checked thermostats, and turned off electronics after use.
  • Incandescent lights were replaced with Energy Star labeled fluorescent bulbs or tubes and lighting controls were programmed in most spaces.
  • Students and staff were encouraged regularly to dress appropriately for the season so that they would be comfortable with the standard thermostat settings.
  • Teachers were encouraged to use available natural lighting, turn off classroom electronics when not in use during break periods, and turn heat down in classrooms.

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

Patricia Hoyle, principal
Patricia.hoyle@kent.k12.wa.us
Beth Gilbertson, environmental services supervisor, Kent School District
Beth.Gilbertson@kent.k12.wa.us
King County Solid Waste Division mission: Waste Prevention, Resource Recovery, Waste Disposal

Contact Us

 Call: 206-477-4466

TTY Relay: 711

expand_less