| If there has ever been an idea whose time has come, | | | | Give the students, teachers and staff healthier |
| it's the idea of taking steps to green our homes, | | | | products to work with. Non-toxic school and office |
| schools, workplaces and bodies. Greening your school | | | | supplies reduce unnecessary exposure to harmful |
| can not only improve the health of your students and | | | | chemicals, and communicate that the school is truly |
| staff and lessen your impact on the environment, it can | | | | committed to taking care of its students, teachers and |
| also create a great sense of school unity and pride as | | | | staff, as well as the environment. Non-toxic markers, |
| everyone works together to put ideas into practice. | | | | art supplies, cleaning products and pest controls will |
| Posters, t-shirts and bumper stickers beckon us to | | | | improve classroom and office air quality, a key |
| follow Gandhi's words to "Be the change you want to | | | | component to thinking and breathing clearly. Not |
| see in the world." What better place to create change | | | | surprisingly, many green products accomplish several |
| than schools teeming with youthful energy, optimistic | | | | goals at once. For example, AusPen eco-friendly |
| minds and helpful hands? Listed here are five simple, | | | | markers use non-toxic ink, they have recycled content |
| practical and creative tips to help your school step it up | | | | (100% recycled and recyclable aluminum), they reduce |
| in going green. | | | | waste since they are refillable, and they are |
| 1. Create an inspiring school-wide movement | | | | cost-effective. |
| An environmental club or eco team can serve to | | | | 4. Reduce waste and energy |
| motivate students into action. Better yet, why not get | | | | Start the year off with an energy audit to assess |
| the whole school involved? The student body can be | | | | energy use patterns. Carry out a waste audit to |
| divided into ‘tribes' with unique areas of interest | | | | calculate how much wet and dry garbage is being |
| such as earth, air, water and fire. The earth keepers | | | | generated. Set goals to reduce waste and energy. |
| can focus on initiatives around waste and composting | | | | Create a litterless or boomerang lunch campaign. |
| or school yard greening; the air keepers can source | | | | Some schools have created a mock Hog Trophy, |
| out ways to improve indoor air quality and increase | | | | awarded to the classroom that has left on its lights or |
| school yard shade; the water keepers can target | | | | computers. The recipients would then be on the |
| water conservation and those wasteful water bottles; | | | | lookout to pass their unwelcomed award on to the |
| and the fire keepers can ensure that energy from | | | | next energy hogs. Other schools have presented a |
| lights and computer labs is being conserved. Pep rallies, | | | | Golden Garbage Can Trophy to the class that has |
| student assemblies and school-wide friendly | | | | shown the greatest leadership in the 3 R's. |
| competition can really create a movement that is | | | | 5. Create a culture of community |
| active, diverse and unifying. | | | | Electronic communications, community-wide invitations |
| 2. Embellish the school halls | | | | to green the school yard, and initiatives like walking |
| An environmentally-active school is a visual feast. | | | | school buses will tell the neighbourhood and parents |
| Creative bulletin and display boards proudly | | | | that yours is a green school, and that everyone is |
| demonstrate plans, goals, achievements and photos, | | | | welcome to take part. Selling customized water bottles |
| while student-created signs adorn the halls and | | | | or safe lunch containers can help raise funds for other |
| classrooms. Doorknob signs can remind students and | | | | environmental activities. Of course, taking part in global |
| teachers to turn off lights and monitors, and ‘No | | | | initiatives and drives such as raising money to |
| Idling' signs urge parents not to leave their car running in | | | | contribute towards clean water in another country will |
| drop-off zones. Large thermometer-style visuals will | | | | teach the students about world citizenship and the |
| help the whole school community stay on task to | | | | value of the resources we have in such abundance. |
| reach their collective goals. | | | | What valuable lessons the school community will |
| 3. Buy safer products | | | | learn in walking together towards a greener school. |