It’s mid-July, and as sunny summer days stretch on, teachers, principals, facilities managers, business officers and others involved in K-12 schools are already looking ahead to fall.
The school year may start after Labor Day in most communities, but the planning starts long before the last gasp of summer. This month is the starting gate, as we all begin to strategize how to make the 2015-16 school year the best yet.
Of course, planning should include ways to make our schools green – healthy, sustainable initiatives that not only positively impact student health, but also save money, decrease your school’s environmental footprint, and improve student achievement. A great place to start planning (if you’re not well on your way already, of course!) is our downloadable GreenPrint™ document, a road map for school leaders, teachers and students. It includes core practices that best place buy ambien online will help your school become part of the green schools movement.
Other resources are available as well, and you can start small, by focusing on one aspect of your school operation. Take energy, for example. The US Department of Energy offers a list of resources for schools interesting in energy-saving initiatives.
Want to start a school gardening program? Let’s Move provides a handy checklist for schools wanting to turn a patch of dirt into a green, growing center of learning.
Is that cafeteria menu too bland, too blah? The Coalition for Healthy School Foods has suggestions for adding healthier foods to your school lunch program.
The good news is, there’s help out there for anyone wanting to start the school year with greener, healthier, more sustainable programs. The better news? It’s still only July – plenty of summer left to enjoy!
Jenny
