Woodside High School has experienced growing recognition of and interest in actions leading to a more sustainable future. Students, parents, teachers from all disciplines, and staff have worked to “green” the campus. Several years ago these constituents formed a Green Task Force that meets monthly to coordinate efforts to raise awareness of environmental issues and to promote recycling, source reduction, and energy conservation at the school.
Environmental Science was first offered as an elective seven years ago, and now there are a full five sections of this course, including Advanced Placement. Our campus has an ambitious recycling program that also provides job training for our autistic and LIF (special education) students. Teachers respond to weekly notices to move recycling toters into the hall for pick up. Students have propagated and planted native plants in parts of the school. Many have participated in habitat restoration and clean-up projects in the community.
The Green Academy will take these initiatives to the next level, and will provide a small learning community with a focus on water and energy conservation and the careers that will lead us to a more sustainable future.
For more information about this innovative program, please contact Marin Aldrich, Green Academy Chair, at maldrich@seq.org. |