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)

• The City of Bellevue partnered with the Green Schools Program to assist Bellevue schools with recycling improvements.
• All classrooms, offices and the cafeteria have recycling containers.
• Students created signs and posted them in classrooms to help students know what to recycle.
• Tips about recycling were shared on the school’s daily news broadcast.
• Milk cartons are recycled in the cafeteria and students stack trays in the cafeteria to reduce garbage volume.
• Morning announcements include recycling information and reminders, and an email was sent to all staff to encourage them to recycle.
• The school recycles its printer cartridges.
• A recycling assembly was held in April 2010 emphasizing Earth Day, recycling and the value of conservation.
• To conserve paper, parents receive the school newsletter through email.
• Teachers use both sides of each piece of paper, make double–sided photocopies and use the backs of chart paper at staff meetings.
• Phantom Lake began to compost 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.
• The school increased its recycling rate from 50 percent to 53 percent.
• Two second grade classes participated in the “healthy habitat” workshop.
• Staff invited City of Bellevue to set up a recycling/waste reduction booth at its science fair.
• In 2011-12, the school participated in the City of Bellevue’s resource conservation assembly and placed new stickers listing what can and can’t be recycled on all recycling containers.

Environmental education

• Two classrooms take care of four outdoor planter boxes.
• At Phantom Lake Elementary, students are encouraged to care for the earth.

Energy conservation (level two)

• Students placed energy conservation labels near all light switches and electrical equipment in the school.
• Students checked computers and lights to make sure they are turned off when not in use.
• Staff invited City of Bellevue to set up the Carbon Yeti booth at its science fair to promote energy and water conservation.
• The school created an energy conservation pledge.
• Students announced green tips during morning announcements.
• During the winter months, students and staff were encouraged to dress appropriately for the season through reminders in morning announcements, teacher classroom announcements and classroom newsletters.
• The school added conservation tips to its website.

Water conservation and pollution prevention (level three)

• Two fourth grade classes participated in Nature Vision’s “healthy water systems” workshop.
• The City of Bellevue was invited to set up its poo-lution booth at the science fair to promote proper disposal of pet waste.
• Two fifth grade classes participated in Nature Vision’s “Healthy Water Systems” workshop.
• Classes received the “Water Cycle Game.”
• Two classes participated in the City of Bellevue’s “Healthy Habitat” workshop.
• The green team used the water conservation resource tub materials from the City of Bellevue.
• The City of Bellevue set up a booth about conservation at the school’s science fair.
• Water conservation and other resource conservation topics were covered in morning announcements.
• Fourth grade students went on a field trip to a local watershed.

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

Phantom Lake Elementary School
425-456-5600