We received our Level 3 King County Green School designation!
In 2022-23, we focused on Water Conservation and Pollution Prevention, continued the practices we implemented earlier, and also maintained a recycling rate of over 50% by:
In 2021-22, we focused on Energy Conservation and maintained a recycling rate of over 50% by:
In 2019-20, we focused on Waste Reduction and Recycling and increased our recycling rate from 47% to 56% by:
If you are interested in helping with any education or events related to waste reduction, recycling, energy or water conservation, walking and/or biking to school, healthy environments (reducing air pollution inside and outside of school), or Earth Week in April, please contact the Sustainability Chair.
In 2022-23, we focused on Water Conservation and Pollution Prevention, continued the practices we implemented earlier, and also maintained a recycling rate of over 50% by:
- Inspiring water conservation and pollution prevention through our Earth Day Art Contest, in which 47 students participated;
- Providing every full-time McAuliffe student with a reusable metal water bottle to help reduce our students' use of single-use plastics;
- Adopting the drains on our campus and pledging to keep them clear of debris and litter;
- Educating our families about our school campus "No Idle Zone" designation and promoting no idling through an optional family pledge;
- Hosting 2 organized litter pickups of our campus this year;
- Installing drought-tolerant and native plantings in 2 garden beds, along with educational signage about the benefits of native and drought-tolerant plants;
- Adding signage to all bathrooms reminding users to turn off the water while soaping hands to conserve water;
- Following water and energy conservation best practices for school facilities, including automated lights and faucets and energy efficient appliances;
- Composting our lunch trays and paper towel waste from all restrooms AND classrooms;
- Introducing composting of food waste at all lunches this spring;
- Sharing recycling, waste reduction, energy and water conservation, and pollution prevention tips and facts through morning announcements and PTSA Facebook posts;
- Collecting used crayons for reuse and recycling;
- Collecting and distributing over 5,000 items for the Used Book Rodeo - our biggest reuse and recycling event! And
- Continuing our excellent classroom recycling practices!
In 2021-22, we focused on Energy Conservation and maintained a recycling rate of over 50% by:
- Using high efficiency lightbulbs and motion sensors to turn off lights in classrooms with no activity
- Utilizing automatic shut-off and energy saving modes on computer monitors and other electronic equipment
- Automating and upgrading our heating system and filters to improve efficiency
- Composting our lunch trays and paper towel waste from all restrooms and 12 classrooms
- Collecting used markers and crayons for reuse and recycling
- Sharing recycling, waste reduction and energy conservation tips and facts through morning announcements and PTSA Facebook posts
- Collecting and distributing over 5,000 items for the Used Book Rodeo - our biggest reuse and recycling event! And
- Continuing our excellent classroom recycling practices!
In 2019-20, we focused on Waste Reduction and Recycling and increased our recycling rate from 47% to 56% by:
- Composting our lunch trays and paper towel waste from all restrooms and 19 classrooms
- Sharing recycling and waste reduction tips and facts through morning announcements and PTSA Facebook posts
- Posting 3D recycling posters in the hallways showing items that can and cannot be recycled
- Collecting and selling over 8,500 items for the Used Book Rodeo - our biggest reuse and recycling event!
- Collecting about 18 pounds of markers (about 1,000 markers) for recycling
- Collecting over 3,000 pounds of used textiles for our 5th grade camp fundraiser; and
- Continuing our excellent classroom recycling practices!
If you are interested in helping with any education or events related to waste reduction, recycling, energy or water conservation, walking and/or biking to school, healthy environments (reducing air pollution inside and outside of school), or Earth Week in April, please contact the Sustainability Chair.
The King County Green Schools (KCGS) program provides schools with tools and support to initiate and expand waste reduction and recycling practices and other conservation actions; involve the whole school community in environmental stewardship; and operate environmentally efficient and responsible facilities. More than 300 schools in King County participate in this program and we are excited to join them!
There are 3 levels of the program:
- Waste Reduction and Recycling (achieved in June 2020!)
- Energy Conservation (achieved in June 2022!)
- Water Conservation (McAuliffe’s focus in the 2022-23 school year)
In 2019-20, we focused on waste reduction and recycling and increased our recycling rate from 47% to 56%. We can increase this rate even further by reducing our food/compostable waste and promoting the use of durable, not disposable products. You can help! We can meet both of these goals by encouraging our children to take only what they will eat if they buy lunch at school, or by sending them a “waste-free” lunch from home. Learn more about waste free lunches here.
The LWSD PTSA Sustainability Chairs have developed a simple guide filled with ideas for how to reduce waste at school events and in the classrooms. If you are involved in school events, including classroom parties or luncheons, please consult this guide for simple actions you can take to help us reduce our waste!
There are 3 levels of the program:
- Waste Reduction and Recycling (achieved in June 2020!)
- Energy Conservation (achieved in June 2022!)
- Water Conservation (McAuliffe’s focus in the 2022-23 school year)
In 2019-20, we focused on waste reduction and recycling and increased our recycling rate from 47% to 56%. We can increase this rate even further by reducing our food/compostable waste and promoting the use of durable, not disposable products. You can help! We can meet both of these goals by encouraging our children to take only what they will eat if they buy lunch at school, or by sending them a “waste-free” lunch from home. Learn more about waste free lunches here.
The LWSD PTSA Sustainability Chairs have developed a simple guide filled with ideas for how to reduce waste at school events and in the classrooms. If you are involved in school events, including classroom parties or luncheons, please consult this guide for simple actions you can take to help us reduce our waste!
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King County Metro SchoolPool
The City of Sammamish, in partnership with King County Metro, has chosen McAuliffe as a pilot school for SchoolPool, a program that supports families choosing to walk, roll, take the bus, and carpool to school. Are you or your student interested in walking, biking, or carpooling to school? Here are some tip sheets with pointers for both children and adults. |
Crayon Recycling
In 2021, we began a partnership with the local organization Mighty Crayon. This teen-led organization repurposes used crayons by repackaging them with a coloring book and distributing them to underserved children in the Puget Sound area and internationally. Any crayon LARGER THAN A HALF-CRAYON is acceptable. Look for a smaller bin in the lobby near the library to donate crayons.
In 2021, we began a partnership with the local organization Mighty Crayon. This teen-led organization repurposes used crayons by repackaging them with a coloring book and distributing them to underserved children in the Puget Sound area and internationally. Any crayon LARGER THAN A HALF-CRAYON is acceptable. Look for a smaller bin in the lobby near the library to donate crayons.
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No Idle Zones
In 2019, LWSD designated all school campuses as “No Idle Zones” and signs were installed over the summer to help remind parents to turn off their engines while waiting for students. If you plan on being stationary in your car for more than 10 seconds, please turn your engine off: this reduces air pollution around our school and saves you money! Remember: Idling = 0 MPG! This Idling Facts Sheet has more information. Thank you for helping to keep the air around our school clean! |