King County recognizes Kent schools for environmental, or ‘green’, work

Each year the King County Solid Waste Division recognizes “Green Teams” that complete projects to conserve resources and improve their school environment. This year, three schools in Kent School District were recognized for their efforts to reduce landfill waste.

• Ginger Ott, a custodian at Scenic Hill Elementary, has been working with fourth- through sixth-grade students to educate the school about waste-reduction methods. A poster campaign and a milk-carton recycling program are making “huge dents” in the amount of garbage the school produces, according to a press release from the county.

• Concerned about the condition of our environment, fifth and sixth graders, led by Scott Meyer at Martin Sortun Elementary, implemented a schoolwide composting and recycling program that cuts the school’s garbage output in half. Also at Martin Sortun, Debbie Sells’ fourth grade class and Kathy Gundlach’s fifth graders are creating native-plant gardens on school grounds. Through the use of educational art, the young gardeners are illustrating the connection between native plant gardens and healthy watershed ecosystems.

• Dianne Thompson’s Environmental Science class at Kent-Meridian High School is building a wildlife habitat on campus. Students are designing and building a pond and a garden that will attract hummingbirds, songbirds, and butterflies. Wood-shop students are making benches to create an outdoor classroom within the habitat. Thompson’s students also received a grant for worm bins and will be mentors for the school, teaching other students proper recycling of food waste in worm bins. The results will be a reduction in garbage along with a “beautiful outdoor space to conduct hands-on environmental classes,” according to the county.