Vision

We were looking to reduce the waste that we send to landfills by launching a compost project that will help divert garbage from landfills. This project will help with the sustainability of our pollinator garden in the school playground because we can create our own composted material to help give nutrients to our native plants. The original inspiration for this project started with the grade 8 students who graduated last year. They were having discussions with their teacher about what they could do to make a difference in their community and how they could help the environment. They came up with the idea of composting in addition to the recycling program that we were already doing.

Action

Students completed a waste audit to see what waste we generate and to start thinking about what we can do this year to help reduce our ecological footprint. Students learned about what this means in social studies class, and they were able to explore the ways that we can reduce waste in each classroom or office in our school. In art class, upper school students were given several work periods to plan, design, program, cut, and apply their Cricut stickers on their classroom bins. Then they presented to their respective grades (kindergarten, grade 1/2, and grade 3/4). In these presentations, students were challenged to share their material in student-friendly language that was appropriate for their target audience. Each classroom now has a labeled compost bin, and we have started collecting compost each week. We shared the details of our project with our grandparents during Grandparent’s Day at the end of May. There was a display where we showcased 2 of our completed classroom compost bins as well as a brief explanation about this compost project. During the event, students told their grandparents all about their part in the project or how the older students have presented to them about composting at our school. This was a great way to reach out to our community and share about the project’s purpose and goals.

Reflection & Celebration

We are excited to continue this compost project and to re-educate our students again in the fall of each new school year. In the fall, upper school students will be creating posters to remind students about what to put in each of the 3 streams of garbage, recycling, and compost. We are very excited to begin this new initiative and see it have a positive impact on the environment in our playground and more broadly.

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