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King County Green Schools program success story: Lake View Elementary School

Success story: Lake View Elementary School

School District: Auburn
School Location: Auburn
Began participating in the Green Schools Program: September 2014

Level One of the Green Schools Program: Achieved in May 2015
Level Two of the Green Schools Program: Achieved in May 2016

Waste reduction and recycling (level one)

  • Lake View Elementary School increased its recycling rate from 38 to 60 percent.
  • In 2016, Lake View maintained a 60 percent recycling rate and continued to encourage students to waste less.
  • In 2016, Custodian Chuck Booth built a recycling station system for the cafeteria to organize bins and help student sort properly. His prototype will be adapted for other schools in the district.
  • As recycling increased, the school reduced its outdoor garbage container from an 8-yard container to a 6-yard container.
  • In September 2014, the school quadrupled its collection of compostable materials.
  • All fifth grade students received training from King County representatives on how to properly sort recyclable and compostable materials.
  • Student volunteers helped custodian Vicki Ball monitor recycling and waste sorting at lunch.
  • Custodian Chuck Booth facilitated Mr. B’s Classroom Challenge, in which the classroom with the least waste and best sorting won a trophy, treats, and storytelling time with Mr. Booth.
  • Super Bees, the student green team, regularly monitored and emptied all classroom recycling bins into a central hallway recycling bin.
  • To reduce waste, students placed their unwanted and unopened milk cartons in a share box for others to drink.
  • Newsletters were sent by email to reduce paper waste.

Energy conservation (level two)

  • Custodians Vicki Ball and Chuck Booth continued their environmental leadership at Lake View by promoting energy conservation among staff members and students.
  • The Green Team hung signs reminding everyone to turn off lights and used energy conservation checklists in every classroom.
  • Fifth grade students studied salmon life cycles, the impacts of hydropower on salmon, and ecological principles. Students made connections between energy conservation and salmon health.
  • Natural light was used whenever possible and the majority of teachers used task lighting rather than overhead fluorescent bulbs.
  • Blinds and doors were closed at the end of the day to conserve heat or keep rooms cooler.

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

Vicki Ball, custodian
vball@auburn.wednet.edu
Scott Weide, Auburn School District resource conservation manager
sweide@auburn.wednet.edu
King County Solid Waste Division mission: Waste Prevention, Resource Recovery, Waste Disposal

Contact Us

 Call: 206-477-4466

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