Sustain DCSD
Back to School Edition 2015
Fall Style!
Collaboration Station
Ever wondered what other schools are doing? Check out the Sustainability Program. Share your own story and get ideas from others!
- Open Discussions
- Elementary Schools, High Schools, and Middle Schools - You will find your school name in each of these files. These are meant for you to share photos (make sure you have media releases from all students!), success stories, data, project outlines, anything you want us and other schools to know about your programs.
- Sustainability Updates
If you aren't able to access it, just email us and we will invite you to the folder.
Clean Air for Schools Engines Off! (CASEO) Program
The American Lung Association in Colorado (ALAC) is excited to again offer the Clean Air for Schools: Engines Off! (CASEO) program. This program helps schools reduce vehicle idling around the perimeter of the school, cutting emissions by an average of 60%! This significant decrease is important for children’s health and the environment. Vehicle pollutants can trigger asthma and lead to long-term health problems. This program offers older elementary and middle school students hands-on experience with data collection, analysis and community outreach.
ALAC is now accepting schools into this year’s program on a first come, first serve basis. Program participation requires a strong community champion (teacher or parent) and selected schools are eligible for a stipend of $500 upon successful implementation of the program. ALAC will provide training, materials and on-going support of the program throughout the school year. Fun and easy-to-use curriculum resources are available, and the school will be able to keep all signage and outreach materials for use in subsequent years.
Contact Courtney Kuntz at courtney.kuntz@dcsdk12.org by August 31st if you are interested in participating!
Brooke Homrighausen: Green Building Engineer
Red Apple Recycling Clothing Drive Challenge
14 DCSD schools participated in the Spring Clothing Drive Challenge by Red Apple Recycling, diverting a total of 16,801 pounds of textiles from the landfill! Congratulations to the following winners of the cash prize!
1st Place $750.00 Timber Trail Elementary
2nd Place $500.00 Northridge Elementary
3rd Place $250.00 Cougar Run Elementary
In addition to these prizes, all schools received 10 cents per pound collected during the drive! It's easy to participate, just
1. Call Red Apple Recycling to get a Little Red School House at your school.
2. Host a clothing drive.
3. Celebrate how much clothing you just diverted from the landfill. Great job!
Website: www.redapplerecycling.com
Parent University: Raising Eco-Kids
Who? Parents who want to know how to help their kids and schools implement easy sustainable strategies.
What? Workshop and Parent Field Trip
Where? Heritage Elementary
Why? Kids spend more time indoors than any generation before them. Research shows that students engaged in hands-on applied and real world aspects of environmental education perform better on most measures of student success (Eco-Schools USA). In addition to academic outcomes, green initiatives impact the budget all while creating healthier learning environments for our kids. Being green doesn’t mean you have to go off the grid. We can save money and the environment by changing little things: we can turn off lights when we aren’t using them; we can print less and recycle what we do print; we can use reusable containers for lunch; we carpool, walk, and ride bike when it makes sense. Come learn how you can help kids, schools, and your own family become more eco-friendly with simple strategies to incorporate into your busy lifestyle.
Class includes a parent field trip to an Eco-Schools USA Green Flag Award winning school!
Tuesday, Sep 29, 2015, 09:00 AM
Heritage Elementary School, Summit View Parkway, Highlands Ranch, CO, United States
RSVPs are enabled for this event.
GOCO School Play Yard Initiative Grant Opportunity
MISSION
Support schools and local governments in constructing age appropriate play yards where kids have an opportunity for unstructured play and outdoor learning. All play yards must be designed, in part, by the student population to ensure the components constructed are the most appealing and beneficial to the users they will serve.
WHO CAN APPLY
Schools can apply if they partner with an eligible local government, such as a city, county or parks and recreation district. These entities can sponsor projects on behalf of ineligible entities like school districts as well as unincorporated cities and towns and community groups.
HOW TO APPLY
Applications for the 2016 grant program is a two-step process. First, schools will participate in a competitive grant process for professional design services. Second, schools selected for those services will compete for funds to construct their projects.
Start now by downloading the 2016 application for design support
Sustainability at Douglas County School District
Email: sustainability@dcsdk12.org
Website: www.dcsdk12.org/sustainability
Location: 3002 State Highway 83, Franktown, CO 80116, United States
Phone: 720-663-1206
Facebook: facebook.com/sustainDCSDK12
Twitter: @sustainDCSD
LeeAnn Westfall
- Waste Management questions and concerns
- Incentive Program
- Facilities and operations
- Eco-Schools USA
- U.S. Department of Education Green Ribbon Schools
Courtney Kuntz
Courtney is a service-learning and green schools advocate. Call her for things such as:
- School presentations on recycling, composting, energy, etc.
- Consulting for your sustainability project or course
- Red Apple Recycling, Crayola ColorCycle, Terracycle
- Grants and fundraising opportunities
Steven Chang
Many thanks to our amazing Sustainability Intern! A graduate of Castle View High School and a current student at the University of Toronto, we put his knowledge of sustainability to work. Steven spent this summer helping our office with the following:
- Comprehensive garden manual including step-by-step instructions for how to start a school garden at DCSD.
- Developing the internship program.
- Generally, just being a great energy to have in the office! Thanks for all your hard work!