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ENVIRONMENT COMMITTEE
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Mission...
The PTSA Environment Committee is a committee designed to create a culture of
environmental responsibility on the Victor Schools campus. The committee
unites parents, students, teachers and school administrators in an effort to make
real and sustainable changes in our campus community that will protect our
children, staff, families and the environment for generations to come.
We believe in...
A healthy school environment, indoors and out.
Protecting the environment through our actions, including pest management,
lawn care, cleaning, recycling, buying practices, paper use, energy use, and
building practices.
Educating students, staff, and parents on environmentally responsible
practices.
Making the Victor School District a leader in the green schools movement
and a model for schools across the region.
For more information on the PTSA Environment Committee or to join us as a member, please contact Carol Chittenden at CAChitter@aol.com.
Victor PTSA Environment Committee Recommendations for An Eco-friendly Campus for Parents and Students
The PTSA Environment Committee is working to help 'green' our campus and we need your help! Please consider the following recommendations for the new school year and contact us at cachitter@aol.com if you have ideas we've missed. We appreciate your support.
Recycling: Encourage your child(ren) to recycle all paper and plastic they use at school, including items brought from home. We recycle both items within the classroom blue bin, with containers loosely on top of paper. We also recycle in the cafeterias.
Snacks:
Send a refillable water canteen from home to help us reduce the waste associated with disposable water bottles and juice boxes.
Choose reusable snack containers and waxed paper to reduce plastic bag and container waste.
Provide paper party cups and plates rather than plastic or Styrofoam. Wash and reuse plastic utensils.
Supplies:
Choose paper folders and notebooks and wooden clipboards.
When donating art and craft materials, choose paper/cardboard/natural materials instead of Styrofoam, foam, plastic, and shaving cream.
Choose earth-friendly materials for homework projects and recycle when finished.
Reuse, then recycle papers sent home from school.
Cleaning: NYS law requires the use of green cleaning products provided by the district only.
Victor PTSA Environment Committee Recommendations for An Eco-friendly Campus for Teachers and Advisors
The PTSA Environment Committee is working to help 'green' our campus and we need your help! Please consider the following recommendations for the new school year and contact us at cachitter@aol.com if you have ideas we've missed. We appreciate your support.
Recycling: Recycle all paper and plastic. For now, separate within classroom blue bin, with containers loosely on top of paper. Create a 'good junk' box and reuse recyclable materials once before recycling.
Art and craft materials: Replace Styrofoam, foam, plastic, and shaving cream with paper/cardboard/natural material alternatives. Use water based markers instead of permanent markers.
Photocopying: Copy flyers onto half sheets when possible and make double sided when needed.
Cleaning: Do not bring in cleaning products from home. NYS law requires the use of the green cleaning products provided by the district only.
Cooking in class: Don't microwave in or serve hot foods in plastic or Styrofoam containers.
Recommend to parents:
Send a refillable water canteen from home to help us reduce the waste associated with disposable water bottles and juice boxes.
Choose reusable snack containers and waxed paper to reduce plastic bag and container waste.
Provide paper party cups and plates rather than plastic or Styrofoam. Wash and reuse plastic utensils.
Choose paper folders and notebooks and wooden clipboards.
When donating art and craft materials, choose paper/cardboard/natural materials instead of Styrofoam, foam, plastic, and shaving cream.
Choose earth-friendly materials for homework projects and recycle when finished.
Reuse, then recycle papers sent home from school.
Special Events
Science Fairs: Use earth-friendly ingredients for science fair experiments and giveaways.
Recycling: Add to Facility Request Form recycling containers for every event, indoors and out, one next to each trash container.
Food and Drinks:
Use paper plates, not Styrofoam plates or containers when serving food. Use paper cups for hot drinks, not Styrofoam.
Use water jugs and paper cups, not plastic or Styrofoam, in place of individual plastic water bottles.
If needed, wash and reuse plastic utensils.
Photocopying: Copy flyers onto half sheets when possible and double sided when 2 sheets are needed.
When it makes sense, refer people to websites for more information in place of additional handouts.
Cooking: Don't microwave in or serve hot foods in plastic or Styrofoam containers.
Victor Schools for
A Sustainable Future Presented by the PTSA Environment Committee May 7, 2009 What Is Sustainability? ‘Meeting the needs of today without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their needs.’ -United Nations definition What Is A Sustainable School? A school that cares for the environment and community in a way that protects our future. Practicing environmental stewardship by… Recycling and reducing waste Conserving energy and resources, reducing greenhouse gas emissions Preventing pollution Preparing our students for the future Sustainability Decision Making
The Triple Bottom Line PEOPLE – PROFIT - PLANET Short term: PRICE Long term: COST PTSA Environment Committee · Creating a culture of environmental responsibility throughout the District · Uniting parents, students, teachers, administrators to make real and sustainable changes on campus · Protecting our children, staff, families, and the environment for generations to come We believe in…
· A healthy school environment indoors and out · Protecting the environment through our actions: · Pesticide-free lawn care · Green cleaning products (NYS program) · Recycling campus-wide · ‘Environmentally Preferred’ purchasing · Efficient paper use · Efficient energy use · Green building design and renovation We believe in…
· Educating students, staff, parents, and the community on environmentally responsible practices · Making Victor a leader in the sustainable schools movement and a model for schools across the region
Accomplishments to Date · Recycling of milk cartons and bottles in all cafeterias · Improved classroom recycling compliance · Publication of recommendations for parents, students and classrooms in ECEC, Primary, and Intermediate handbooks · Phase One of Pesticide Reduction Program · Two successful community Earth Day Celebrations, Science Fair, class lessons Reduce, Reuse, Recycle
1. Reduce Reduce paper use – email, double sided copies, ½ sheets, consolidate mail going to same household – saves postage $! Reduce plastics and Styrofoam - plastic milk bottles, Styofoam trays, Styrofoam soup bowls, Styrofoam containers for fundraiser dinners & events, Styrofoam party supplies, plastic bottles at events and sports concession stands
Styrofoam and the Environment · Styrene classified by EPA as a possible human carcinogen · Styrene leaches into foods causing hazards to reproductive system · 5th largest creator of hazardous waste · Made with petroleum – non-renewable · Dangerous to animals · Not recyclable – lasts hundreds of years
Reduce, Reuse, Recycle
2. Reuse
Water bottles from home Coffee cups from home Paper for notes/drawing – office and classroom Green purchasing: Paper - recycled content Recycled content carpet, electronics, playground and gym – you name it! EPA Environmentally Preferred Purchasing Program: http://www.epa.gov/epp/
Reduce, Reuse, Recycle
3. Recycle Milk cartons, plastic bottles, drink packages
Paper, glue bottles, glue sticks
Computers, cartridges, batteries, lightbulbs
Energy Use · Sustainable energy sources · Efficient heating, cooling, insulation · Auto shut-off lighting · Auto shut-off computer programming · Moderate building temperatures · Energy Star computers and appliances · Fuel conservation · Energy efficient renovations
Pollution Prevention Pesticides linked to cancer and reproductive disorders Children especially vulnerable Pesticide Reduction Program - 3 younger schools to start NYS Education Dept Recommendations Ontario Program Evaluation of our program, expansion
Teaching Environmental Literacy · Fewer than 1 in 9 Americans score 60% when quizzed on issues likely to be major problems in the next 15-25 years · Only 1 in 25 scored 70% or higher on a quiz of environmental knowledge National Environmental Education Foundation
Teaching Environmental Literacy Bluemenauer’s Higher Education Sustainability Act of 2008 · "As the world's population increases, so does our impact on the environment, which makes it more vital than ever to invest in training the next generation of scientists, engineers, planners and business professionals," said Congressman Blumenauer. · “…We can protect the planet while helping maintain America's economic competitiveness. As businesses around the world go green, they need a robust workforce with proper job training… Going green is the future, and for America to remain competitive we must start funding programs that will train a new generation of workers." · “90% of Fortune 500 CEOs said they want sustainable development to become part of their mission.” What are other schools doing?
RIT, University of Rochester, and colleges across the country are going green.
Where do we go from here?
· Present to School Board · Create a District Sustainability Team · Write a District Sustainability Plan · Measure and monitor our progress
Victor Central PTSA
Victor Central PTSA
Home of the Blue Devils!!
Thank you for supporting
VICTOR CENTRAL PTSA!
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