October 2014 News


In This Issue
People's Climate March
International Walk to School Day
National Farm to School Month
Article from Former Green Schools Intern
America Recycles Day/Recycle Bowl
USA Public Green Schools Survey
Dr Oz Science Fair Video Contest
Parent Toolkit
(A Student's) Green Shopping Guide
Samsung Contest
Women's Transportation Seminar Scholarships
Habitat the Game
Green Ribbon Schools
NSTA Awards and Recognitions
Save the Date
Grant Opportunities

Interact With Green Schools!

 

 

Green Strides Webinar Series and Resources

 

 

 

Visit U.S. Department of Education Green Strides 

 

Green Schools Sponsors

 

 

 




 

 

 

 

 

 

Konica Minolta

 

 

 

 

 

Together We Can

 

 

 

   

 

 


Join Our Mailing List! 

 

 

 
  


44 Days Left to Pledge to the Green Schools Campaign!! Don't wait! 
Become a Proud Supporter of Green Schools Now!

 
 


 
Green Schools greatly appreciates the generous Sponsorship by GreenFundraiserStore.com to our Campaign. 


 

Greenfundraiserstore.com was born out of the idea of building an effective fundraising alternative to the traditional offerings.  They wanted their offering to teach as well as fill a need.  Every item has to meet their"Green and Health" standard.  So they think battery buckets not only can provide a "teachable moment" from the seller to the buyer.  


 

As a father of four children, Don Sherman, was discouraged with the offerings of things like cookie dough and pizza kits.  They wanted to turn fundraising on its ear and through trial and error eventually chose the Amazon web store format which was safe, secure and has millions of eyeballs on it daily.  The effect was incredible since their market left the confines of Southeastern Michigan and expanded to really the world.  The most satisfying thing for Don is waking up every day and finding his company helped provide a high quality tool to help allow their customers to make a "green shift" in their course of daily living.  

 

People's Climate March - I went!

 

By Jamison Wrinn, Green Schools Junior Officer

 

On Sunday, September 21, 2014 I attended the People's Climate March in New York City with my mom and brother. We stayed with my brother in Brooklyn where he has an apartment. Walking to the subway that morning we passed many people carrying signs and wearing t-shirts that were environmental or had climate-related statements on them. When we got on the subway, even more people had clothing that represented a message about the climate. We saw people with handmade felted hats and others who were carrying signs. Everyone was talking to each other....

 

I got up on my brother's shoulders to see what was happening and a girl came over to me and said, "Little dude, start a chant!" So I did: "What do we want? Climate Justice! When do we want it? NOW!" That was very cool.... 

 

We marched for climate justice, and I wore a placard that read "Green Students NOW!" I felt so alive walking with so many people who believe in the same thing....

 

Read Entire Post

 

Peoples Climate March Wrap Up

 

Celebrate International Walk to School Day

   


 

 Celebrate International Walk to School Day on October 8!


 

 Register and Learn More

 

2015 Compost Awareness Week Poster Contest

Deadline: October 31, 2014

 

The U.S. Composting Council (USCC) is seeking poster entries on the theme, "Be Loyal to Your Soil-Compost!" Share your artistic interpretation of compost and its ties to soil health. The winning poster design will be reproduced and distributed nationwide as the offical 2015 International Composting Awareness Week (ICAW) poster and featured on the USCC website.

 

Learn More

 

October is National Farm to School Month


 

 

The National Farm to School Network advocated for the creation of National Farm to School Month and now organizes the annual celebration in partnership with dozens of partner organizations. National Farm to School Month was designated by Congress in 2010 to demonstrate the growing importance of farm to school programs as a means to improve child nutrition, support local economies and educate children about the origins of food. 

 

Read on for more information about Farm to School Month 2014, including resources, a chance to win $1,000 for your farm to school project and other ways to get involved.

 

Article from Andrew Budsock - Former Green Schools Intern and Past Green Difference Award Winner

 

ISTEM (INTERNATIONAL EXPERIENCES + STEM) : IS STEM ENOUGH? 

 

The STEM fields, Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math, are of growing importance for my generation. However, alone, are they enough? New STEM initiatives are springing up across the country, which, as a young scientist, is amazing to observe. It is of the utmost importance to help cultivate interests in these fields among young students. However, this seemingly simple task is complex with myriad obstacles and challenges. Cultivating interest in STEM requires nuanced thinking and experiential learning, and diverse perspectives. Therefore, I believe that it is almost essential for there to be an international component to how we think about STEM education. I call this new idea, iSTEM !!!!!!!!!


 

Read entire blog post

 

Photo courtesy of original blog post 

 

America Recycles Day and Recycle- Bowl Competition

Be sure to sign up by Wednesday, October 15, 2014! 

 

Recycle-Bowl begins Monday, October 20, 2014 and runs through Saturday, November 15, 2014.

 

An initiative of Keep America Beautiful (KAB), America Recycles Day is the only nationally-recognized day dedicated to promoting and celebrating recycling in the U.S. 

 

ATTENTION Principals: USA Public Green School Survey Coming Your Way

 

Inverness Associates, a consulting group focused on developing green, sustainable schools, is surveying public schools in a dozen representative states (Colorado, Florida, Hawaii, Kansas, Kentucky, Massachusetts, Maryland, Oregon, Texas, Virginia, Washington, and Wisconsin) to learn about environmental education and sustainability programs, as reflected in your school's facilities and operations, food program, curriculum, and connections to informal science and environmental education organizations.  We are especially interested in your views as a principal.


 

The survey will begin on Wednesday, October 1 and end on Friday, October 17 and take about 10-15 minutes. 

 

 

Please take the time to complete this survey when it comes your way!

Read complete introduction letter from Paul Chapman of Inverness Associates. 

 

The Dr. Oz Celebrity Science Fair Video Contest

Enter Dr. Oz's Celebrity Science Fair for a Chance to Win a Trip to New York! Deadline October 15, 2014

 
You've seen what Dr. Oz's famous friends can do and now it's your turn: Upload a video of yourself completing an experiment to YouTube and enter the Dr. Oz Celebrity Science Fair for a chance to win a trip to New York and a meet and greet with Dr. Oz. 

 

Learn More

 

Parent Toolkit from Green Schools Initiative 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

This Parent Toolkit is designed to make it easy for busy parents like you to follow a few quick and easy steps for greening your child's school.

 

For each of the steps, we provide links to more information and tools; everything from our "How Green is Your School?" Quiz to waste-free lunch guidelines, and from greening your PTA events to student action projects and beyond

 

Visit Green Schools Initiative to Learn More

 
(A Student's) Green Shopping Guide

 

By Stephanie Businelli

Congratulations! You fought through your SATs, got your diploma, and are now heading towards "the best four years of your life," more commonly known as college. If you're a student who plans to live on campus, now is the time to start shopping for your new home, one that will be entirely yours (with the sole exception of that roommate you've been getting to know over Facebook this summer). While you're buying supplies that will make your dorm reflect the uniqueness that is you, don't forget to keep your permanent home - planet Earth - in mind. Making your dorm 'green' may seem as impossible as fitting all of your worldly possessions into that tiny room, but it doesn't have to be!

  

Try asking yourself these questions while you shop for your college dorm essentials:

  1. Can you buy it used? Head to a consignment store before you rush into major purchases. Many items on your list (especially larger ones like furniture) can be found secondhand at a lower price while keeping that "just as good as new" quality.
  2. Is it reusable? Rather than buying single-use items, buy those that have a longer shelf life. A single glass plate can replace countless paper ones that ultimately end up in the trash.
Read Full List

  

Win A Share of $2 Million in Technology!


 


 


 


 

 

Samsung is searching for teachers and students with innovative ideas for solving problems in their local communities. Submit your proposal for this year's Solve For Tomorrow Contest for the chance to win a share of $2 Million** of Samsung technology. 

 

Learn More

 

The Women's Transportation Seminar - Boston Chapter announced their annual scholarships  

 

The 2015 Boston Chapter Scholarship Program application period is now open and will close at 5:00 pm Eastern Time on October 27, 2014. Local scholarship winners are announced in December and receive recognition at the June Scholarships & Awards Dinner. WTS Foundation national scholarship winners are announced in February and receive recognition at the Scholarship Dinner at the Annual Conference in Chicago on May 21, 2015. 

 

View Scholarships

 

Habitat the Game 

The world's habitats are in danger and you can help save them.

 

In the vein of the Tamagotchi persistence play craze of the90s, users will undertake actions to keep an endangered animal alive. In Habitat game players will adopt a polar bear. To keep the bear alive and healthy, players need to successfully complete events in the game and undertake real world actions. By completing these TASKS players will progress through levels, increasing the health of their bear. Ultimately the goal is to save the world by improving the bear's health.


 

Habitat the Game is designed to teach seven to 12 year-olds ecologically sustainable habits, Habitat encourages players to adopt an endangered animal, a virtual polar bear, and keep it happy and healthy. Players earn points through games in the app and by completing real-life "missions," like recycling or checking in at more than 30 parks around the world, including national parks, Zoos and other iconic sites. The virtual pins collected at these sites can also be traded with players around the world.

 

Visit  www.habitatthegame.com to learn more, or find the app on iTunes and Google Play.

 

Green Ribbon Schools

 

The aim of U.S. Department of Education Green Ribbon Schools (ED-GRS) is to inspire schools, districts and Institutions of Higher Education (IHEs) to strive for 21st century excellence, by highlighting exemplary practices and resources that all can employ. 

 

To that end, the award recognizes schools, districts, and IHEs that:

  1. Reduce environmental impact and costs;
  2. Improve the health and wellness of schools, students,            and staff; and
  3. Provide environmental education, which teaches many disciplines, and is especially good at effectively incorporating STEM, civic skills, and green career pathways

Learn More

 

NSTA Awards and Recognitions

 

 The 2015 award applications are open for submission. November 30, 2014 deadline

You can't win if you don't apply! You may apply for more than one award; however, each application must be based on a unique program and process and you will be eligible to win only one NSTA award per year.


Click for a list of Awards and Recognitions and download an application

 

Save the Date! 

 

 

Grant Opportunities
Wild Ones Seeds for Education Grants: Deadline October 15, 2014
Wild Ones offers assistance for all aspects of projects which: expand learning opportunities by enhancing schoolyards with nature trails, butterfly gardents, prairies, woodland wildflower preserves, and similar projects. Projects must meet the following essential criteria: 1) Youth engagement in planning and doing. 2) Creation of an ecosystem community based on native plants. 3) Focus on hands-on educational activities. 
Apply

Lowe's Toolbox for Education Grants: Deadline October 15, 2014
Lowe's Toolbox for Education offers grants between $2,000-$5,000 for any individual public K-12 school or associated non-profit parent group. There is a preference for funding requests that have a permanent impact such as facility enhancement (indoor/outdoor) as well as landscaping/clean up type projects. Projects that encourage parent involvement and build stronger community spirit will be favored. Projects must be able to be completed within one year of grant reception to be considered. Apply


DoSomething.org Seed Grants  Deadline: Ongoing

 

Are you working to start a community action project or program with your friends? Do you need money to put your ideas into action? A $500 Do Something Seed Grant is given out every week to help young people just like YOU! These grants can be used towards project ideas and programs that are just getting started, or to jump-start your program and realize your ideas for the first time. These grants can also be used towards projects that are already developed and sustainable, towards the next steps of your project and organization to help you as you look to expand your project and grow your impact. Click Here   

 

 

Sincerely,

Robin Organ

Founder and Executive Director

Green Schools