With student achievement as its first priority, district departments will continue to: recognize the intergenerational nature of sustainability; work collaboratively and establish learning opportunities that are brought to life by its teachers and students; and be supported by physical spaces and operations throughout the district.

2011 Accomplishments

• Students at Polaris Expeditionary Learning School hosted a booth on green fashion at the Sustainable Living Fair in September. Clothing was purchased at thrift stores, alterations were made by students, and the clothing was sold.
• Channel 10, the district's educational cable access television station, teamed up with Planning, Design & Construction to produce serial video communication for the 2010 Bond. Hosted by a district project manager, the Summer 2011 Bond Fund Update highlighted new playground equipment, roof replacements, and new locker installation. 
• Student council and environmental club members at Poudre High School put tape over one light switch in each room to encourage students and staff to only turn on lights as needed. In addition, students make sure computers and lights are turned off at night; if a computer or light is left on, the students leave a reminder note to turn off lights and monitors when the room is not in use. 
• At a statewide recycling conference in Steamboat Springs, student representatives from Kinard CARES (Community, Action, Results, Environment, Service) presented on use of social media and its effects on sustainability and recycling. 

What's on the Horizon for 2012

• Rice Elementary will use their vegetable garden as a pilot program for use of harvested vegetables in the school cafeteria. Students and staff will be able to harvest lettuce and spinach weekly and the growing process will be used as a teaching tool.
• Bacon Elementary School will present at the Green Schools National Conference and put together presentations, including a podcast, video segment, and book, on green aspects of the building. The presentations will also be on display in the main office for use by students, staff, and visitors. 
• In partnership with the Little Shop of Physics, Channel 10 will produce "School Works"; these segments will highlight sustainable systems within district buildings. Each segment will include a tour of the system and a tabletop demonstration of how the system works. 
• Students from Kinard CARES will create and post "Did you know?" plaques in various locations around the building to share facts about energy efficient building features. 

Sustainable Education in Action!

Kinard CARES Wins Bronze Award

Kinard CARES, a Kinard Middle School program focusing on environmental leadership, service-learning, and sustainable living, was recognized at the Colorado Environmental Leadership Program awards in October for their video submission, which was geared toward spreading environmental awareness within their school community. At the awards ceremony, student representatives from Kinard CARES were able to interact with environmental leaders from around the state. The award-winning video can be seen here. 

Rice WASABI Environmental Club

Rice Elementary School's WASABI (We Are Serious about Being Informed) environmental club continued to share their knowledge of building features and message of environmental responsibility with students, staff, parents, and community members. Throughout the course of the school year, WASABI club members trained their fellow students about the school's composting program, put together a presentation on sustainable building features for new teachers, provided tours of the building for parents during orientations and back-to-school nights, and taught students about sustainability and conservation efforts.

Polaris 8th Grade River Walk

To demonstrate how far children in Africa walk to get clean drinking water, 8th grade students at Polaris Expeditionary Learning School participate in an annual river walk. Each student walks from the school to the Poudre River and carries water back to the building; the nearly 7 miles walked is equivalent to the average distance a child in Africa walks to get clean water. Pledges are received for the walk and the money raised is donated to an organization in Uganda that works to provide clean drinking water to villages. 

Channel 10 Sustainable Education Video Segment

View panelists Dierdre Cook, Barb Groves, Jeramy Jasmann, Mike Spearnak, and host Mary Hasl as they discuss the economic and educational benefits of sustainability in Poudre Schools.