2017 R3 Conference - K12, Session 2

1. K-12 Pushing the Envelope
Ipswich School District
The System of Sustainability in Education
Presented by Regina King and Nicole Whitten
sustainable.ipswich@gmail.com
www.sustainableipswich.org
IPSWICH
S U S T A I N A B L E
EDUCATION

2. •

3. Ipswich Sustainable Education
Focuses and Related Experiential Learning Opportunities of ISE are:
• Nutrition (School Gardens and Cooking Education)
• Waste Reduction and Diversion (Compost, Reuse, Reduce and Recycling)
• Smart Purchasing of Non Styrofoam Cafeteria Serving Products
• Influence on Curriculum- Bridging Sustainability and STEAM
• Green Teams
• Local Farm and Waste Facility tours
• Environmental Education Sourcing (Change Is Simple)
• Collaboration with Community (Generation Growers)
We believe that guiding children along the path from farm to fork instills healthy
eating and reduction in waste habits that can last a lifetime.
ISE is more than just gardens, recycling and healthy eating! We aim to help our
schools and kids conserve water and energy, reduce reliance on personal motor
vehicles and get kids (and parents) up and active for a healthy lifestyle.
Ipswich Sustainable Education (ISE) is a group of parents and community members working
to help implement sustainable practices in the classroom, cafeteria and community.

4. Pushing the Envelope… it’s more than RECYCLING!
The System of Sustainability in Education
 Collaboration is KEY (Find and grow interest from
School Community: Parents, Students, Teachers, Custodians
and Community)
 Top District Decision Makers (Present and
Garner Interest -Principals, Superintendent, School
Board/Committee)
 Bottom Up/Top Down approach (Green
Teams-School Board/Committee)
 Create Student and Teacher Investment
(Green Teams and Core Volunteer Base)

5.  School Composting… Community
Collaboration (funding by PTOs and
now School Operational Budget, use of local
compost facilitiy)
 Clear Uniform Signage
 Consistent Receptacle Color
Identification
 Location and Availability of
Receptacles (Classrooms, Cafeterias,
Common Areas and Playgrounds)
Comprehensive Waste Reduction and Diversion
(Recycling, Composting, Textiles, Hard Plastics, Metal, Dry Markers, Plastic Bags,
Batteries/Cell Phones, New Recycling Initiatives)
 Education and Proper Sorting (Custodians and
students)
 Participation/Collaboration with Town Waste
Reduction Committee (Ipswich Waste Reduction
Advisory Committee)
 School District Waste Reduction and
Management Policy (to uphold town sustainable vision
and Municipal Waste Policy to insure town cost savings
through reduced trash hauling fees)
Pushing the Envelope… it’s more than RECYCLING!
The System of Sustainability in Education

6. Pushing the Envelope… it’s more than RECYCLING!
The System of Sustainability in Education
Purchasing and Equipment
 Working with and Educating Food
Service Director, Cafeteria Managers
and Custodial Staff
 Elimination of Non
Recyclable/Styrofoam Serving
Products
 Source Funding for Differential
Costs for Green Alternative
Products (Green Fundraising)
 Composting and Recycling these
Products Educates School
Community on Waste Stream
 Community Support through local
company grants (NE-BIOLABS)

7. Pushing the Envelope… it’s more than RECYCLING!
The System of Sustainability in Education
 School Gardens and Nutrition…
Education on the Cycle of Composting
 Green Teams… District Wide, Project Based
Education, Kids teaching Kids and staff
 Ban the Bag and Styrofoam... Student
Implimentation of Town Policy 2016
 Celebrate America Recycles Day and
Earth Day… Have Fun!
 Presence at School Events … Low waste at
Green Team/School Events and Community
Playground Build
 STEAM & Enviromental Education...
Change is Simple... Community collaboration
funding and support - Zumis Cafe
 Hydration Stations... Reusble teaching tool
and Community Collaboration- Grant from
MA DEP, Student Driven
Create and Sustain the Culture

8. Pushing the Envelope… it’s more than RECYCLING!
The System of Sustainability in Education

9. I pswich School District
diver ts over 76 Tons of
Cafeteria Organic Food
Waste fr om the Waste Str eam
ever y school year !
This 2016-17 School Year,
Winthr op
Elementar y School’s
Student Leader ship
has star ted a
classroom
composting pr ogr am which may
help r educe the tonnage accr ued
this school year !
greenteam
This saves
Ipswich $$$
and helps the
at the same
time!

10. Pushing the Envelope… it’s more than RECYCLING!
The System of Sustainability in Education
In Conclusion
Collaborate with:
• Decision Makers- know and become one!
• Students- get the kids involved and empowered!
• Administrators and Staff- get their input!
• Community- get them invested!
Create The Culture That Reflects Your Town Values
Let’s Brainstorm and Share Ideas!!