More Hydration = Less Obesity w/ High-Quality H2O, Environmental Awareness/Sustainability, & STEAM Day

May 18, 2018

More Hydration = Less Obesity w/ High-Quality H2O

My students need a refrigerated wall water cooler w/ bottle filling station to help reduce dependence on plastic water bottles & encourage/educate students to use reusable water containers to reduce our school's carbon footprint.

My Students

I teach sixth-grade earth, life, and physical science/engineering. I am thrilled to be able to share my passion for nature, the environment, environmental sustainability, water, energy, and resource conservation, recycling, composting, and other waste/landfill diversion practices, Science, Technology, Engineering, Art and Math (STEAM).

Middle school is a critical juncture in a student's education, especially for stimulating interest in the environmental movement, water, energy, and resource conservation, and STEAM-related subjects.

In the larger community, we collectively know that we need to invest more resources (time, effort, environmental education, curriculum structured around eco-literacy, and other sustainable resource opportunities connected with reducing our carbon footprint) into the acquirement of products and resources made from sustainable practices and processes. Additionally, we need to apply education about recycling and composting, STEAM-related teaching, and the Engineering Design Process in order to fuel our nation's growth.

Our school's community is committed to providing a safe, orderly, respectful and supportive environment conducive to academic learning, STEAM education, engineering, environmental eco-literacy, and self-growth.

We encourage a cooperative and supportive educational partnership among students, staff, parents, and the community. This partnership provides resources and support to enhance student learning and ensure student success.

My Project

Our school strives to be a certified Green Ribbon School (GRS) with "High-Quality H2O" in which "More Hydration = Less Obesity" (reducing the consumption of sugary drinks w/ high-quality water). A GRS school excels in resource efficiency, health & wellness, & environmental & sustainable education. The GRS Award identifies & communicates practices that result in improved student engagement, academic "achievement, graduation rates, & workforce independence & economic security.

The refrigerated refillable water bottle drinking fountain will support our students'/school's goals and transition toward a greater understanding of water conservation & environmental sustainability on our school campus by using reusable water bottles with or without our school logo.

Our school is working to achieve all three GRS pillars of environmental awareness as recommended by the CA Dept. of Ed. GRS goals. The pillars (goals) are Pillar 1: Reduce environmental impact & costs; Pillar 2: Improve the health & wellness of schools, students, & staff; & Pillar 3: Provide effective environmental education, which teaches many disciplines, & is especially good at effectively incorporating STEAM, civic skills, & green career pathways.

The refrigerated refillable water bottle drinking fountain (1 out of a total of 7 to be purchased this school year) will help support our school achieve all three pillars through reducing our environmental impact & costs, improve health & wellness, & providing environmental awareness & education to the student body, staff, & faculty.

In addition to the new drinking fountain, our school is currently implementing & engaging in several school-wide environmental practices. 1: Water Conservation/education. 2: Campus-wide education "Eckucation". 3: Campus-wide recycling, composting, & reduced landfill waste during the school day. 4: Campus Waste Audits (4x per year, 1 a quarter).

With your help, we all can help our school reduce our carbon footprint & achieve the Green Ribbon School Award.

Where Your Donation Goes:
TK13123521T Refrigerated Wall Water Cooler with Bottle Filling Station; sold by GRAINGER.

Intended impact of project

Reduced environmental impact
Improved occupant health & performance
Increased environmental & sustainability literacy
Reduce landfill waste