Success story: Riverview Learning Center
School District: Riverview
School Location: Carnation
Began participating in the Green Schools Program: October 2011
Level One of the Green Schools Program: Achieved in May 2012
Waste reduction and recycling (level one)
- Riverview Learning Center, a newly constructed facility that opened for the 2011-12 school year, increased its recycling rate from 11 percent in October 2011 to 38 percent in May 2012.
- The school reduced the size of its outdoor garbage container from 8 yards to 3 yards, and increased the size of its outdoor recycling container from 1 yard to 2 yards.
- The ninth and tenth grade students in the school’s CHOICE program took the initiative to complete the Green Schools Level One criteria.
- Students in the CHOICE program started the recycling program in September 2011 and collect recyclable materials weekly from each classroom, with leadership from students Arthur Marty and Sarah Hooper.
- Custodian Bill Kincaid supports the school’s recycling efforts by assisting with recycling collection and monitoring outdoor collection containers.
- A labeled recycling container was placed in every classroom and office, and staff and students are encouraged to reduce waste and recycle.
- To reduce paper use, teachers write on whiteboards and students copy assignments in their notebooks. In addition, staff bulletins and announcements are sent electronically.
- The facility uses recycled content copy paper, makes double-sided copies when printing is necessary, and write on both sides of paper.
- In October, students in the Environmental Science class, “A Sustainable World,” completed a unit about Consumption and the Environment.
For more information about the school’s conservation achievements and participation in the Green Schools Program, contact:
Shari Milliken, CHOICE teacher
millikens@riverview.wednet.edu