Recycle your E-Waste
Laderal Elementary will hold an E-Waste event on May 16. Read more...
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Congratulations!
Red Hill Elementary RECYCLED GIRAFFE SCHOOL PROJECT
Our recycled giraffe not only won a blue ribbon for 1st place, but went on to become a Division Winner (gold ribbon and trophy)! It was on display at the Youth Expo/OC Fairgrounds this past weekend in their “Best of Show” area and there were over 6,000 entries!
It is currently on display at The Lost Bean (near Tustin Brewery) this Monday through Friday for Earth Week (4/20-24).
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Tustin Memorial Academy receives award:
Tustin Memorial Academy (TMA) recently celebrated receiving the California Service-Learning Leader Schools Award. Tustin Memorial Academy was one of 11 California Schools selected for this award based on the ability of teachers and parents working together to help their students meet their Academic Performance Index growth targets while teaching children about civic responsibilities. TMA had an opportunity to share many of their special projects and lessons through a written application process and an on-site validation visit. During the visitation, Bette Wineberg observed the Outdoor Learning Center with children and parents watering the seedlings for the "Seed to Harvest" program for the Second Harvest Food Bank. Mrs. Mulligan's second grade students participated in a gingerbread assembly line as children learned the importance of working collaboratively.

TMA was extremely honored to receive this special award. Principal Cindy Agopian and parents Monique Nelsen and Marci Maietta-Wineberg attended the February 10th California Service-Learning luncheon where TMA was recognized by State Superintendent of Public Instruction Jack O'Connell.

A plaque and a flag is proudly displayed at the school to remind students that they can make a difference in their school and the community.

Congrats!
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Recycle!
Benson is holding a Recycle Fest on May 16. Check out the flyer for more info.
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Earth Day!
Here's how Ladera Elementary is celebrating (send us your school's updates - info@tpsf.net- and we'll post them here):

• Ladera's second annual "Power Down and Turn off the TV Week" is meant to encourage students and their families to read, exercise or spend quality time with family rather than watching television.
• On Wednesday at lunch recess Ladera's "Green Team" will lead all students in a Campus clean up.
• Ladera will announce it's first ewaste drive. This is a great way to get rid of all your old electronic equipment and appliances, large or small, while benefiting our school. Look for information in your April 24th Friday Folder.
• The Garden Committee will be on hand Wednesday to display Ladera's organic garden and give instruction on non-toxic weeding and planting.
• And of course, Earth Day is also Walk to School Wednesday!
• Ladera's Green Team has been cited in various national and local publications. Please visit the Ladera website's Press Clippings page at http://www.laderaleopards.org/press-clippings/ to review the articles.
• Printer cartridges, cell phones, and plastic bottles are being recycled to benefit Ladera's 2009 5th grade activities. Visit www.tustin.k12.ca.us/ladera/documents/recycle.pdf for more information.
• This year will mark the beginning of "The Green Generation Campaign" which will also be the focus of the 40th Anniversary of Earth Day in 2010. Please visit www.earthday.net/earthday2009 for more information.

E-Waste Collection
This Saturday, April 18, there is an E-Waste collection event at Nelson Elementary. They'll take anything with a plug from 9-3:00pm! See the event flyer.
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More tips for Environmental Education Week!

Be Water Wise Miami
EE Week 2009 Signature Event: Be Water Wise MiamiEE Week kicked off its 2009 signature event - Be Water Wise Miami - with a launch event at Jose de Diego Middle School in Miami, Fla. this morning. The event began with a press conference with City of Miami Mayor Manny Diaz and Miami-Dade County Public Schools Superintendent Alberto Carvalho. Students then demonstrated the Be Water Wise School Water Measurement Activity for the mayor, the superintendent and the press. Later in the month, teachers and custodians from 13 other Miami schools will be trained in using the School Water Measurement Activity with their students, and students will present the findings to city and county officials. Learn more

Water Tip of the Day
Want a glass of cold water? Keep a pitcher of water in the fridge instead of running the tap for cold water.Source: H2O Conserve
For a list of of water facts in English and Spanish, visit our Be Water Wise! Facts page.

EE Week Partner Spotlight
Imagine School at Avondale - Avondale, Ariz. Students at Avondale recently received a $1,000 grant through Project WET and the University of Arizona Extension to conduct a school water audit. After evaluating the school's water use, students found areas where improvements could be made. They launched a campaign to educate students and parents about water saving techniques with a focus on four key areas of the school: restrooms, drinking fountains, the cafeteria and landscaping. Imagine School at Avondale will host a culminating water celebration on Earth Day, April 22. The celebration will feature a Fix-a-Leak display demonstrating how much water is wasted each week due to leaky toilets, sinks and showers and mini lessons on sustainable water use for teachers to implement in the classroom.

Access the EE Week School Water Audit for resources to conduct a water audit with your students.

Featured Resources
EE Week Water Bees
Together with our partners at The Groundwater Foundation and WET in the City, EE Week has developed two Water Bees in support of the 2009 theme: Be Water Wise! Similar to EE Week's popular Nature Bees, the Water Bees are grade-appropriate, 10-question, multiple choice online quizzes to test students' knowledge of the water cycle, water pollution and water conservation. Access the Water Bee for Grades K-4 or the Water Bee for Grades 5-8.

Earth Gauge Kids Earth Gauge Kids is a website designed for fifth through eighth grade students that focuses on a different weather-environment theme each month. The April theme for Earth Gauge Kids is Be Water Wise! Kids will find an interactive quiz, activity ideas, fun facts and links to "cool tools" and online games related to water. If you would like to highlight Earth Gauge Kids on your organization's website, access the widget code that will automatically update each month when a new theme is launched. Stay tuned for future themes at www.earthgauge.net/kids.

For these and other Be Water Wise! resources, visit us on the web.
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Tip from the National Environmental Education Foundation
Water Tip of the Day
When you give your pet fresh water, or when cleaning out the fish tank, don't throw the old water down the drain. Use it to water a plant. Source: Water - Use It Wisely
For a list of water facts in English and Spanish, visit our Be Water Wise! Facts page.

EE Week Partner Spotlight
Level Green Institute - Ithaca, N.Y.
This year, Ithacans are weaving EE Week together with a week-long celebration of Earth Day. In addition to special events throughout the community and at all area schools, the Cayuga Watershed Network and Floating Classroom will use the week to explore creation of a new Lake Stewards' Program. As part of a broader initiative to mobilize the arts for sustainability education, local artists will lead student workshops on environment- and water-themed art. The week's culmination, a community celebration at the Ithaca Farmers' Market on Lake Cayuga, will feature an exhibit of water-themed paintings and other celebratory activities. Learn more

Featured Resources
Water Quality Testing Testing water quality in a local river or stream is a great way to engage your students in EE Week's 2009 Be Water Wise! theme. Thanks to the support of two EE Week Partners - World Water Monitoring DayTM and the Earth Force GREEN program - we are able to offer water quality testing resources for elementary, middle and high school students, as well as planning resources for teachers and parameters to help interpret results. Visit our Water Quality Testing Resources page for more information.

H2O Conserve Issue SheetsH2O Conserve is a is a Web-based project that offers tools and knowledge that enable individuals to make water conservation part of their everyday lives. The H2O Conserve Issue Sheets were developed to increase understanding of current issues related to water supply, water quality and water use. Issue sheet topics include: Water Use in the Home, The Things We Buy, Water Use and Global Warming and Bottled Water, among others.

For these and other Be Water Wise! resources, visit us on the web.

The National Environmental Education Foundation (NEEF) provides knowledge to trusted professionals who, with their credibility, amplify messages to national audiences to solve everyday environmental problems. Together, we generate lasting positive change.
NEEF partners with professionals in health, education, media, business, and public land management to promote daily actions for helping people protect and enjoy the environment. Through our primary programs - Classroom Earth, National Public Lands Day, National Environmental Education Week, Business and Environment, Earth Gauge and our Pediatric Environmental History Initiative - we offer Americans knowledge to live by.
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PTOs Going Green
Our Green schools are getting exposure all over the place! See Ladera Elementary mentioned in these two PTO publications:

How PTOs Are Going Green
How PTOs Are Making Schools Green

There might be some good ideas in these articles for your school.
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Article on Green Schools
Check out a great article in April's OC Parenting Magazine about Green schools. Some of our Go Green members are featured! It also has some resources that may be helpful.

Thanks to Terri Benedict for brining this to our attention.

http://www.parentingoc.com/feature_0904_2.html
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Interested in a school garden? Here are some workshops to help get you started!

Have you heard about the exciting "Creating and Sustaining Your School Garden" workshops that the UCEE Master Gardeners are offering? The first of three workshops is happening Saturday, April 18 and there are 2 more after that. They originally wanted a "team" of attendees from each school, but since parent volunteers are most likely to make a school garden program happen, they have dropped the "teacher/staff member" requirement. I will be attending all 3 sessions with great appreciation for this support they are offering our schools.
~Robyn Butler
Peters Canyon Elementary

Registration is just $20 per workshop or $50 for all 3! (Your Go Green funds can pay for this!)
http://tpsf.net/PDFs/MG%20School%20Garden%20Workshops.pdf
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Recycle Jeans!

Pam Edmondson from Ladera's Green team shared this interesting article:

You Can Help Set a Guinness World Record™!
Send us your old jeans and other denim clothes and help us create the world’s largest collection of clothes to recycle.

http://kids.nationalgeographic.com/Stories/MoreStories/Guinness-clothes

Note from Carol: I believe the Environmental Nature Center in Costa Mesa used this type of insulation on their new building. It's a great center - http://www.encenter.org/ ____________________________________________________________

Green Art!
Terri Benedict from Red Hill Elementary also shared some info:

Thought you might like to see a fun "reduce, reuse, recycle" giraffe project our entire school entered in the Youth Expo/OC Fairgrounds competition. We took an old, rusty windmill from the school garden and the kids spent weeks collecting plastic beverage caps, CDs, gluesticks, etc. and turned it into a wonderful masterpiece!

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Earth Day Activity
Here's a tip from one of our Go Green volunteers, Terri Benedict:

A local youth service group (Ripple Kids) I am involved with will be joining efforts with the Lost Bean Organic Coffee Shop on a great Earth Day Community event on Sunday, April 19 from 12-3pm. It is FREE AND if you bring your own mug, all drinks are 1/2 off that day and on Earth Day, 4/22.

The activities will include:
*planting milkweed seedlings in recycled newspaper pots to support the Monarch habitat (a great, no-cost way for schools to start or expand their garden program--we have Monarch caterpillars, chrysalis and butterflies in our garden almost yearound. I'll even have Monarch caterpillars on milkweed plants so kids can see them up close).
*decorating a dog bed filled with fleece blanket scraps (that would otherwise be thrown in the trash) to be taken home or donated to our local animal shelter.
*creating special, handmade Mother's Day cards for the Tustin Senior Center.
*learning how simple it is to recycle organic waste with worm bins (we'll actually have an active one there to show how it works!)

Sounds like a fun "Green" activity. Download a flyer you can post/pass on. http://tpsf.net/PDFs/BeanDonateEARTHdayCommunity2.pdf
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Happy EE Week!
National Environmental Education Week has begun. We are happy to announce that with the help of all of EE Week's partners across the country and around the world, EE Week 2009 will be the biggest and best to date. Over 2,500 schools and organizations have registered to participate. EE Week is a time to celebrate the many dedicated environmental educators around the nation. You help promote environmental learning throughout the year, and this week we say thank you for all that you do. It's not too late to register! Join the thousands of educators dedicated to increasing environmental literacy among K-12 students by registering for EE Week at http://action.neefusa.org/page/m2/2b1c8e8/b7b5507/3e4ca2d4/7b046245/2892380545/VEsE/.
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Acorn Naturalists Makes a GENEROUS Donation

To our Go Green Friends – We have more resources to share:

Acorn Naturalists has made a GENEROUS donation to our Go Green efforts. They have some incredible environmental curriculum that they are offering FREE to TUSD classrooms. They include the award-winning Biodiversity Basics educator's guide and student book, Oceans of Life educator's guide, Smart Consumers, Biodiversity Primer (high-gloss magazine for kids) and educator's guide, Biodiveristy 911 Kit, and other materials. Descriptions of these materials are found at acornnaturalists.com

These materials are for use in the classroom, so please spread the word to your school’s teachers and principal. Get them before they are gone – it’s first come, first served!! Here are some direct links to some of the resources so you can see what’s available:

BioDiversity Basics (Educators guide, student book and poster)

Oceans of Life Educators Guide (grades 6-9)

Smart Consumers: An Educator’s Guide to Exploring Consumer Issues – grades 6-9

Biodiversity Primer (set of 30 high-gloss magazines for upper elementary/middle school) and Educator’s Guide

Biodiversity 911 Kit and video

You can pick up the materials from Acorn Naturalists (155 El Camino Real). Hours are 10 a.m. - 5:00 p.m., Monday - Saturday. There are no limits on quantities at this time. THANK YOU to Jennifer Rigby of Acorn Naturalists for making this available to our schools.

ALSO:
Pam Edmondson of Ladera’s Go Green Committee suggested the Daily Green newsletter for ideas.

Terri Benedict of Red Hill’s program uses these easy to make newspaper pots. You just wrap some old newspaper around the wooden form and you have a pot that can be used for seedlings and planted right in the ground. http://www.richters.com/newdisplay.cgi?page=./CommercialRetailers/potmaker_main.htm

More Environmental Education Week resources are at http://www.neefusa.org/.

Thanks for all your work in our schools!

Go Green in the News

See the OC Register article about our Go Green project. Thanks to all who contributed.

http://www.ocregister.com/articles/school-elementary-students-2313229-tustin-schools

Drop off E-Waste Feb. 21

Saturday, February 21, 2009, Myford Elementary will be having an e-waste event from 9:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m. We will be accepting anything with a plug. Just wanted to pass the information out there.

(Myford is at 3181 Trevino Drive, Irvine, California 92602, (714) 734-1875).

Special Go Green national radio show

Go Green Radio...
What is a "Green" Home?
Peter Yost is one of the nation's leading experts on green building, and helped develop the U.S. Green Building Council's new standards for "green" homes. He has been building, researching, teaching, writing, and consulting on high performance homes for more than twenty years, and will share his insight with Go Green Radio listeners!
Tune in to Go Green Radio this Friday, Feb. 20, from 9-10 am Pacific; noon-1pm Eastern at www.VoiceAmerica.com

Environmental Education Week is coming up

Check out all the info about Environmental Education Week - April 12-19, 2009. Please let us know at info@tpsf.net what activities are being planned at your school.

http://tpsf.net/EE_Week_February_News.htm

Recycling Bottles and Cans

I was talking with Rosalie Morris of CR&R Waste and Recycling Services, and she mentioned a recycling program available to all schools. They will drop off an outdoor container for bottles and cans. It is large - 22' x 8' - see photo. When the container is full, call them and they'll pick it up, recycle the items and send your school a check. See the attached letter for more details.

Thanks for your efforts to "green" our schools. Email me if you have other resources to share and I'll post them here.

Carol

How to get a Go Green Tustin grant.

All TUSD schools are eligible for up to $1,000 to support their efforts to “Go Green.” Funds can be used to jump-start a program or to expand current efforts. Anything that supports environmental education can be purchased through this project, which is sponsored by the Tustin Public Schools Foundation.

For ideas and background information about the national Go Green Initiative, download the Planning Guide: http://gogreeninitiative.org/PDF/PlanningGuide.pdf

We suggest forming a group at your school that will implement your Go Green activities. Successful projects usually include a combination of parents, teachers/staff and students.

When you are ready to apply for your grant, submit a simple online form: http://www.tpsf.net/GoGreenForm.htm.

Funds will then be forwarded to your school’s PTA or PTO. A progress report is due by June 30: http://www.tpsf.net/PDFs/Progress%20Report.pdf

Please keep the Tustin Public Schools Foundation aware of your progress (info@tpsf.net). We appreciate photos, newsletter articles and invitations to see your project in action.

Go Green, Tustin!

Go Green Kick Off Meeting

Do you know the best place to buy voracious worms? Over 30 parents, teachers, principals and community members now do. At the Tustin Public Schools Foundation’s Go Green Tustin meeting on Jan. 28, representatives from Tustin Unified Schools shared their tips for making our schools “greener.”

This blog is a place where we can share resources, ask questions, and work together to help our schools Go Green. We hope it will be helpful. When you add your own comments, please tell us who you are. Sign your comments with your name and the school or company you represent (Name/School).

Go Green, Tustin!