The mission of the Bonny Slope Earth Sustainability Team (BEST) is to create a safer, healthier school environment, while teaching students, families and staff how to interact more gently with the planet. We accomplish this through school wide events such as International Walk to School Day and Earth Week, classroom projects incorporating PYP principles, and through community partnerships and recognition programs. We aim to inspire a greater awareness of our relationship with, and impact on, the Earth for our students, families and staff. BEST is about having fun designing a healthy and Earth friendly school for our community-in essence, trying to make every day Earth Day! Do you have a desire to share your passion and enthusiasm for green living? A core team of 6 to 10 volunteers is needed for BEST to design and implement our various environmental programs. Additional volunteers are also needed for International Walk to School Day and Earth Week.
International Walk to School Day – October 5
Bonny Slope is going to celebrate International Walk to School Day, and promote safe walking and bicycling throughout the year. Check out http://www.iwalktoschool.org/
Our Walk to School Day is just a part of the bigger picture of what we see for Bonny Slope in the years to come. Our team has been collecting data about how students are transported to school in hopes of receiving funding for future sidewalks and trails through the Safe Routes to School program. This organization enables community leaders, schools and parents across the United States to improve safety and encourages more children to safely walk and bicycle to school. In the process, programs are working to reduce traffic congestion and improve health and the environment, making communities more livable for everyone. For more information visit: http://www.saferoutesinfo.org/
Earth Week – April 23-27
Earth Week is a special opportunity to celebrate and reeducate the students and staff on the programs already in place at Bonny Slope as well as introduce new environmental goals and activities.
In addition, each year we ask the Bonny Slope Community andall our neighbors, friends and families to Change1 Thing to make a difference for the Earth. One thing really can make a difference. Youmight think that changing one light bulb isn’t a big deal. But itactually affects so much! It reduces the use of electricity, which reduces theburning of fossil fuels, which reduces the production of Carbon Dioxide!
One compactfluorescent light bulb will outlast 10-15 incandescent light bulbs. So it also reducesthe production of light bulbs, which reduces the energy used to create thoselight bulbs, which reduces the amount of materials used, which reduces theamount of waste produced, which reduces the packaging created, which reducesthe amount of trucks on the road shipping them to the stores…and more!
So you can see it’s easy to make a positive impact forthe Earth! Changing one thing makes a very big difference and when many of us Change 1 Thing we have an even bigger impact!
No Waste Lunch & Snack Program
If your student packs a lunch or snack, use reusable containers & utensils, cloth napkins, and reusable drinking bottle. If your student buys lunch encourage them to eat what they take so they reduce food waste and take a drink in a reusable bottle instead of a plastic bottle.
Here’s a handy site full of tasty no-waste lunch ideas: Laptop Lunches: http://www.laptoplunches.com/
Anti-Idling in the Parking Lot Program
Have you ever sat in the Bonny Slope parking lot with your car idling as you wait for your child after school? If so, you’re someone who can make a difference in the air quality around the entrance to the school and reduce our national carbon footprint one car at a time. It’s no longer true that you save money by keeping your car idling. Our cars are much more efficient with their electronic fuel injectors. If you’re going to be stopped for more than 10 seconds, it’s best to shut off your engine. Remember this rule and we’ll all enjoy the clean air…we’re sure our kids, especially those with breathing challenges, will appreciate it!
For more Anti Idling facts and tips, visit Oregon Toxics website: http://www.oregontoxics.org/benzene/no_idle.html
Green School Program
In April 2009 BSE successfully achieved Green School Status through the Oregon Green Schools Organization because of the many environmental programs and practices taking place at Bonny Slope. Then we were excited to get the news that BSE achieved Merit Certification in June 2010! Now we’ll be working toward becoming a Premier Level school and join the 14 other schools in Oregon that have earned this honor. This means we will get more involved with the community as well as reducing even more waste! It’s an exciting task to take on. Because BSE is an official Green School, five of our 5th graders will be invited to attend the Green Summit each spring. For more information about the Oregon Green Schools Organization, go to http://www.oregongreenschools.org
Our Favorite Resources
We love how these websites are educational and also informative on how we can make a difference one family at a time.
Great Pacific Garbage Patch: http://www.greatgarbagepatch.org/ or click here for additional information
One of the largest oceanic garbage swills in the world. It is roughly the size of Texas, containing approximately 3.5 million tons of trash. Shoes, toys, bags, pacifiers, wrappers, toothbrushes, and bottles too numerous to count are only part of what can be found in this accidental dump floating midway between Hawaii and San Francisco.
The Story of Stuff: http://www.storyofstuff.com/
From its extraction through sale, use and disposal, all the stuff in our lives affects communities at home and abroad, yet most of this is hidden from view. The Story of Stuff is a 20-minute, fast-paced, fact-filled look at the underside of our production and consumption patterns. The Story of Stuff exposes the connections between a huge number of environmental and social issues, and calls us together to create a more sustainable and just world. It’ll teach you something, it’ll make you laugh, and it just may change the way you look at all the stuff in your life forever.
Healthy Child Healthy World: http://healthychild.org/
We are a 501(c)(3) nonprofit inspiring parents to protect young children from harmful chemicals.
Center for Health, Environment & Justice: http://www.chej.org/
28 years of keeping the American promise – building strong, healthy and safe communities.
Oregon Environmental Council: http://www.oeconline.org/
From the inception of the modern environmental movement, the Oregon Environmental Council staff and volunteers have worked across the state to advocate on behalf of all Oregonians. Our notable results have made Oregon a healthier, cleaner place for all of us, and for the generations to come. Below are some of our key achievements.
Solarize Portland: http://www.solarizeportland.org/
The Solarize Portland project hopes to help Portland residents overcome the logistical hurdles of going solar powered at home = Who to hire? What to buy? What to budget? Where to start? With Solarize Portland, interested neighbors are joining forces to conquer the pick, purchase and install process as a team.
Friends of CPO 1 Cedar Hills & Cedar Mill of Oregon: http://www.cpo1friends.org/
Citizens Participation Organization supporting community development in the areas of connecting neighborhoods, transportation, Cedar Mill Town Center, Natural Resources, Governance, Noise, Light & Aviation as well as Aging and disability.
If you are interested in learning more about the Earth Sustainability or interested in becoming a volunteer or, please contact:
Jenny Pompilio jpompilio@usa.net
Staci Wallace ohmmama9@gmail.com
