Did You Know?

Leaders Beyond the Classroom

Do you have students that could be leaders in sustainability outside the classroom? Here are some ideas for leadership opportunities school wide:

Collect recycling from the classroom and take it to a central location for the custodial staff.
Weeding the gardens on your school grounds.
Water newly planted trees.
Help monitor the recycling and garbage at lunch when students finish eating (divert unnecessary items from the landfill).
Make posters about best practices for energy and recycling and hang them around the building.
Do a walkthrough - How many doors are left open? Lights on in unoccupied rooms? Equipment left on when not in use? Tally it up and teach staff and students about why this makes a difference.

For more ideas and/or support with getting something like this started at your school, contact Kristine Sorensen.

It Starts With Us!

Building Report Cards

CRCSD students and staff play an important role in reducing our energy and water usage, waste consumption and carbon footprint.

Energy Star Scores compare buildings similar to yours with others nationwide. Are you wondering what your building and staff can do to increase your Energy Star Score? There is a list of easy ways to decrease the energy usage at your school on our website, just click on the Report Card button below.

For additional information or questions you can contact our Energy Project Supervisor, Tammy Carter.

Report Cards

Prepping, Planting, and Releasing

Botany students in Mrs. Hellweg's class at Kennedy High School have a large collection of common milkweed seeds. The students let them dry for two weeks before planting this fall. Milkweed is the only food source for monarch caterpillars, as well as a favorite plant for many other insect species.

Students at Cedar River Academy at Taylor raised and released 30 monarchs in September. Thanks to Monarch Research who donated the bio tent and milkweed, kindergarteners were able to learn about the importance of monarchs and their life cycle from egg to butterfly.

Green Teams

October Challenge

Green teams participate in challenges each month that are unique and allow for the opportunity to teach students about environmental best practices. Teams that participate earn funding for projects and activities thanks to our generous local business sponsors.

The October Challenge focuses on diverting waste from the landfill. Team leaders, conduct a waste audit with your students and use your findings to reduce the amount of trash in your school or classroom. Please contact Green Team Coordinator, Kristine Sorensen, if you are participating so she can direct you on how to do this with your team and provide you with the educational materials needed.

Participating teams will receive $250, thanks to our sponsors!