Objective 2: Student led sustainability practices
2.3 Solid Waste Reduction
Recycling at Henderson Hopkins
(Below) The recycling team works hard to collect the schools estimated over 10,000 lbs of paper. We started the school year using money from previous years Green, Healthy, Smart Challenge grant to purchase small yellow recycling bins. We coordinated with the maintenance staff to bring the recycling to a larger container outside and this year received another $1000 grant to purchase a large green dumpster through the Green Healthy Smart Challenge. Our recycling team takes their job very seriously.
Re-use of Recycled Materials
(Below) Students in grade K-8 have all experienced the use of recycled materials in the art room at one point or another. Students learn that art can be made from anything while also discussing "where does our trash go?" Students are prompted to think about all the trash that we make each day and how many of those things could serve another purpose, art or otherwise. Recycled materials are collected from the student recycling-bins and re-used to create art.
(from top left to bottom right): 6th grade teamwork exercise, 3rd grade recycled bag kite project, 3rd grade race cars, 2nd grade center-prices for a benefit dinner, 4th grade green club project, 7th recycled-material club project).
(from top left to bottom right): 6th grade teamwork exercise, 3rd grade recycled bag kite project, 3rd grade race cars, 2nd grade center-prices for a benefit dinner, 4th grade green club project, 7th recycled-material club project).
2.7 Healthy School Environment
4th Grade and Middle Grades Green Teams
The middle school Green Team has been educating the middl-schoolers over the course of their Wednesday lunch periods. The students invite other students not in the team to participate in collecting organic material and spreading the word about composting. The compost generated will be used in our future herb garden.
Rain Gardens
Our learning takes us outside. The school was built with rain gardens that can provide space for student-maintained gardens. Student led practices with the rain gardens will be including picking up trash and planting seeds that specifically need a lot of water.
2.5 Structures of Environmental Learning
The Green Team has been developing an herb garden ready to become a permanent part of one of our many outdoor learning terraces. The 4th grade green team who works closely with our vice principal, Carol DeLoatch are planning on laying a garden bed received from Great Kids Farms in April 2015 upon our return from spring break now that the ground has finally thawed! The seedlings from below were also donated from Great Kids Farms this year. We have begun our herb garden including- dill, cilantro, sage, mint, oregano, red pepper, and rosemary among others which the students are excited to see grow and taste- such as chamomile, red peppers and peas which we hope to grow up the side of our building surround the garden bed.
Outdoor Terraces
Learning extends outdoors in our learning terraces. The school was designed to incorporate an outdoor learning terrace for each grade-group cluster. There are 5 learning terraces in which the students have led trash pick-up, gardening, and run and play outside. The area is no accessible from the street making it a safe place for students to play.
2.1 Water Conservation/Pollution Prevention
Storm Drain Clean-Up
The student Green Team, comprised of six 7th grade students work together for 3 hours every Wednesday to plot solutions for school-wide engagement. Students review projects from other schools and develop a plan to meet our communities needs.
(Right) In the Spring of 2015, the Green Team safely sprayed 4 storm drains around the school and Early Childhood Center connected to Henderson Hopkins. The students are excited to plan a presentation for the upcoming Earth Day event at the school to share their learning about watersheds and the importance of protecting storm drain waters as they lead to the Chesapeake Bay. This project was completed using a kit from Blue Water Baltimore.
(Right) In the Spring of 2015, the Green Team safely sprayed 4 storm drains around the school and Early Childhood Center connected to Henderson Hopkins. The students are excited to plan a presentation for the upcoming Earth Day event at the school to share their learning about watersheds and the importance of protecting storm drain waters as they lead to the Chesapeake Bay. This project was completed using a kit from Blue Water Baltimore.
Community Trash Pick-Up Day in June 1, 2014
In June 2014, the 6th graders led a community effort with the help of parents, families and other community members. We are especially lucky to hold sting parent led events such as these and many others with the help of our parent and community liaison Tara Hayes, also a parent at the school. Everyone got together to get outside and clean-up the trash. Students were able to share their learning in order to have meaningful conversations surround the importance of environmental stewardship.
2.4 Habitat Restoration
In the fall of 2013 and 2014 students in 6th grade participated in what will now become an annual trip to North Bay. As part of the program the students were able to conduct a trash pick-up on the beaches of North Bay. Students bought this information back to the school and last year completed a community pick-up at the end of the school year. We expect to complete a similar trash-pick up day this year involving community members and families to help spread the importance of maintain a healthy school environment, and improving the habitat surrounding the school for local plants and wildlife.
4th grade Green Team
Below our 4th grade green team plots a sustainable use for all of the abandoned row houses surrounding the school. They also sought to also improve the quality of life for the homeless. Eventually, the students concluded that what was missing in the neighborhood was a place that can provide a job for the homeless while improving the life of the community. They settled with a brilliant plan to create a hypothetical restaurant where all the produce is grown, extra sold as a CSA , where the homeless people apply to live and work.