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Stephanie Schleicher, Chairperson, WLS KOG
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E A R TH D A Y 2 0 1 0
In celebration of Earth Day, 2010, WLS Keen on Green
encourages families to reflect on
the meaning of this important event and determine if
there are additional ways to embrace the principles behind
Earth Day.
Earth Day originated forty years ago when U.S. senator
Gaylord Nelson recognized the need for a grassroots movement
to protect the environment. Oil spills, raw sewage dumping,
pesticide contamination, toxic landfills, loss of wilderness
were some of issues brought forth to address the increasing
concern and awareness of environmental hazards.
In celebration of Earth Day, Heal
the Bay will present next week at WLS. The appointed
guest speaker will educate and share information about
current environmental issues regarding our oceans and
ecosystem. Heal the Bay is a nonprofit environmental
organization dedicated to making Southern California coastal
waters and watersheds, including Santa Monica Bay, safe,
healthy and clean. They use research, education, community
action and advocacy to pursue their mission.
Currently, there are many concerns
with climate change, air and water quality, pollution, and
public health related to industrial and human waste.
Schools are increasingly incorporating “Green Programs” to
educate, reduce waste, and recycle.
WLS Keen on Green strives to maintain
environmental stewardship by recycling, reusing, and
reducing waste. The program includes recycling plastic and
aluminum beverage containers, batteries, used cell phones,
and paper. Students are encouraged to reuse their personal
beverage bottles weekly instead of generating more trash.
In addition, our KinderGarden has added beauty and learning
opportunities for sustainable native plants as well as grow
vegetables and fruit that will be later donated to the LA
Food Pantry. Volunteers are needed to expand this program
so if you are interested, please contact Stephanie
Schleicher, Chairperson, KOG.
Simple steps you and your family can
take to reduce waste and energy usage regardless of your
political position or level of environmental concern.
Perhaps you want to learn more about how to improve being a
steward of the environment, the principles behind
environmental conservation, how to reduce energy consumption
and clutter, or more about current legislation, political
activism, and volunteer opportunities.
Explore these websites for more
information regarding the environment, legislation, ways you
can continue to support and educate your family.
http://www.ladwp.com/library/statichtml/homepage_greenla.html
http://lacity.org/ForResidents/EnvironmentRecycling/index.htm
http://www.calrecycle.ca.gov/
http://www.epa.gov
http://www.earthjustice.org/
http://earth911.com
http://healthebay.org
http://www.storyofstuff.com/
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Congratulations to 4A
our Keen On Green First Place Winners for May
and the Entire School Year! 4A students
recycled and reused to accrue an amazing 8,896 points
for their class. Second place goes to 1A (6,311
points), and third place to 4B (4,753 points)!
However, together our WLS Jr K-5th Grades
collected 42,676 points – close to 6,000 gain
from the last school year. We are so proud of our students
for all their recycling and effort to reduce, reuse, and
recycle. Special thanks to teachers, especially Ms.
Anderson, Mrs. Nelson, and Mrs. Merrill, for encouraging the
students and consistently submitting the tally sheets to the
office. Together we accomplished some outstanding goals
this year!
The grand prize of a WEEK OF FREE DRESS goes to 4A
but you should all be proud of your work to support the WLS
Keen on Green Program!
Many thanks to the dedicated group of parent volunteers who
took turns collecting and redeeming the recylables weekly:
Elena Chizov, Andrea and Brad Goodman, Glen Kacena, Steve
Lee, Susan Lockhart, Steve Rasmussen, and Christina
Esprabens. The recycling program raised close to $1,500
for the year!
Please continue to drop off your used batteries, cell
phones, aluminum cans, plastic water bottles, and ink
cartridges at the school. Thank you WLS families and
teachers –Awesome Job! Stephanie Schleicher, KOG
Chairperson


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Cell Phone Drive
After the holidays….How many of you have new cell
phones to replace your old cell phones? WLS KOG
is sponsoring a cell phone collection drive to properly dispose
of unused cell phones and raise additional funds for our school
projects. Many of us have several old cell phones around the
house that should not go in the trash! Instead, it is
recommended that you remove your SIM card or clear your personal
records using the following website prior to donation:
http://www.recellular.com/recycling/data_eraser/
Bring your inactive cell phone to the school
office and deposit it in the labeled receptacles. There are
additional receptacles for accessories that we will dispose of
at:
http://www.lacity.org/san/solid_resources/pdfs/safe-htp-flyer_english.pdf
Recycling your cell phone both ensures that your
e-waste is properly disposed of and earns additional funds for
our school.
Thank you for your support in WLS Keen on Green!
Stephanie Schleicher, Chairperson, KOG
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REDUCE -REUSE-RECYCLE
Bring your aluminum cans and plastic bottles to school for
the next two Fridays. And then ...continue to save them
during the Christmas vacation to help us have a record
turn-in in January.
Remember--using your WLS water bottle count for your class
totals. By using a WLS water bottle every day you are
not using a plastic bottle and that helps our environment!
We will be placing and order for WLS bottles in 2010 so
watch for the order form.
Our white "recyclables only" bin is another way WLS is
recycling.
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The WLS
"I'm in"
to being green
PLEDGE
●
I'm
in because I care
about our planet and its ability to sustain life for future generations.
● I'm
in
to support clean energy and green alternatives.
●
I'm in to practice
ways to Reduce, Reuse, and Recycle.
●
I'm in to
visualize positive change for our planet and our communities,
and to share that vision with everyone I meet
●
I'm in
to lead
global community by example through my own thoughtful actions.
●
I'm in
to being a good steward of God, and to love and care for all His
creations.
YES, I'm In
to print
pledge
click here
Adapted from the GreenUnitedStates.com pledge
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Keen
On Green Program
We initiated the
Westchester Lutheran School "Keen on Green Program" to create
greater action, awareness, and responsibility on campus to
reduce, reuse, and recycle. Our students, faculty, and
families have embraced our recycling program and a growing
number of measures to conserve resources.
WLS is committed to
reducing school paper usage, phasing in electronic communication
through our "E-Envelope" on our wlcs.org website. In
addition, our campus recycling program currently accepts
plastic, aluminum, batteries, and ink cartridges. We are
working toward expanding the program include a cardboard and
paper products as well.
The support energy conservation, families receive hours for
carpooling, walking, or riding their bikes to school.
To
encourage "green scholarship," information is distributed
regularly for: community recycling centers for households waste,
water and energy efficiency tips, green consumption, and ideas
to embrace the preservation of natural resources and
sustainable energy resources.
10
Green Tips
1. Replace your incandescent light bulbs with compact
fluorescent lights (CFLs).
2. Turn down the hot water heater to 130º F.
3. Turn down the thermostat 3º in the winter and up 3º
in the summer.
4. Purchase Energy Star™
labeled appliances.
5. Wash and rinse laundry and dishes in cold water.
6. Check your car tires for proper air pressure to
maximize mileage.
7. Buy locally produced meats, and produce.
8. Drink water from reusable glassware whenever
possible.
9. Walk, bike, and carpool to school and work.
10. Reduce unwanted junk mail by getting off mailing lists.
To print this
information click on this link
Keen On Green Brochure
Thank you for your continued efforts to make WLS a more
responsible, innovative, and contributing school and community.
The WLS Green Team
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