Salman has finals next week. I am sending this information to him to respond with his schedule. Carmen
From: Clay, Carmen
Sent: Wednesday, May 18, 2011 6:03 PM
To: salmanhamid96@hotmail.com
Cc: Carmen Clay
Subject: FW: Apology for Thursday Skype
From: MURAD SERTAÇ ERDEN [mailto:serden@odtugvo.k12.tr]
Sent: Wednesday, May 18, 2011 7:33 AM
To: Clay, Carmen
Subject: YNT: Apology for Thursday Skype
Last week I couldn't reply your e-mail, because we were very busy and had worked on our Science Day Activities. Sorry for that. Tomorrow (19th May) our school will not be open. It's 19th May Youth and Sport Festival. So there will be some activities and ceremony in the morning. We can talk about the future plans and our pair work, if possible, next week (26th May) at about 3:15 pm or 3:30 pm (for our time zone). Our school year will end at 16th June. See you next week.
Sertaç ERDEN
________________________________________
Kimden: Clay, Carmen [clayc@casady.org]
Gönderildi: 13 Mayıs 2011 Cuma 14:09
Kime: Salman Hamid; MURAD SERTAÇ ERDEN; SEÇİL NAZLIER
Konu: RE: Apology for Thursday Skype
I told Salman that I would not be able to attend because I had an unexpected training for a project for the Spanish classes. I am sorry we did not communicate. I hope we will be able to do so next week.
I need to start writing the report for NAIS. Please send me via e-mail your reflection of your year. When does the school year end in Turkey?
Salman: I need yours too. Please work on your reflection this weekend and send me an update of hours to certify for your transcript. I also want you to see the intergenerational grant below:
http://gu.org/OURWORK/Programs/YouthJumpstartGrants.aspx
________________________________________
From: Salman Hamid [mailto:salmanhamid96@hotmail.com]
Sent: Thu 5/12/2011 11:21 PM
To: Murad Sertaç ERDEN; snazlier@odtugvo.k12.tr
Cc: Clay, Carmen
Subject: Apology for Thursday Skype
I understand that we are continuing our Skype conversations every Thursday until the end of the school year, which for me is May 27. I apologize for not showing this morning, 7 am was sort of early for me, and since exams are coming up, i have been staying up some late nights studying. I overslept, and tried to send an email to you apologizing, but I just received an email saying that the apology email I sent earlier failed in reaching you. Again I am sorry, and hope to see you next Thursday.
Thursday, May 19, 2011
Sunday, May 8, 2011
Take the Zero Foot Print Challenge
Project Learning Tree GreenSchools http://www.plt.org/
Nat'l Wildlife Federation EcoSchools http://www.nwf.org/en/Global-Warming/School-Solutions/Eco-Schools-USA.aspx (Eco Schools is International! NWF is the US host)
Earth Day Network http://www.earthday.org/education
Green Schools Initiative http://www.greenschools.ne/ t
Green Schools National Network http://www.greenschoolsnationalconference.org/ (primary focus)
USGBC http://www.greenbuildings.org/
Statistics on how unhealthy our schools are: http://www.projectgreenschools.org/, http://www.usgreenschools.org/. The Alliance to Save Energy (ASE) and the EPA have great sites that have statistics, reports, ideas for schools, etc.
Christina Stallings Roberson, Education/Project Learning Tree Coordinator, Oklahoma Forestry Services, (405) 522-6158 christina.stallings@oda.state.ok.us
GENERAL GREEN SCHOOL RESOURCES
· Project Learning Tree Green Schools Program: www.plt.org
· U.S.G.B.C. Green Schools 101: http://www.buildgreenschools.org/gs101/
· Green Schools Alliance: http://www.greenschoolsalliance.org/
· U.S. Green Schools Foundation: http://www.usgreenschools.org/
· Global Green U.S.A. Green Schools Initiative (with Jake Gyllenhaal): http://www.globalgreen.org/greenurbanism/schools/
· AFT Road Map to Green & Sustainable Schools: http://www.aft.org/topics/building-conditions/downloads/BMMB_GREENGUIDE.pdf
· E-Chalk Green Calculator: http://www.echalknyc.com/www/echalknyc/site/hosting/greencalc.html
· Healthy Schools Campaign: http://www.healthyschoolscampaign.org/
· Education Reporting: http://www.educationreporting.com/greened.php
· Green Schools Initiative 7 Steps to Greening Your School: http://www.greenschools.net/article.php?id=70
· National Wildlife Federation (NWF) Eco-Schools: http://www.nwf.org/ecoschools/
ENERGY RESOURCES
· U.S. Department of Energy, Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy Network: The New Guide to Operating and Maintaining EnergySmart Schools: http://apps1.eere.energy.gov/buildings/publications/pdfs/energysmartschools/ess_o-and-m-guide.pdf
· Alliance to Save Energy, Green Schools - Using Energy Efficiency to Strengthen Schools (Students Leading the Way): http://www.ase.org/section/program/greenschl
· U.S. EPA Energy Star™ for Schools (Top performing ENERGY STAR labeled schools cost forty cents per square foot less to operate than the average performers. Energy Star recognition is available – Recognition Section of this site.) http://www.energystar.gov/index.cfm?c=k12_schools.bus_schoolsk12
· ASHRAE Advanced Energy Guide for K-12 Schools: http://aedg.ashrae.org/aedgagreement.php?aedg=1&source=4febd1bc46e8be9026dcfccef23707badu
· U.S. Department of Energy, Office of Building, Technology, State and Community Programs, How to Guide: Maximize Energy Savings in School Buildings: http://apps1.eere.energy.gov/state_energy_program/pdfs/a1_schools.pdf
ENERGY EDUCATION
· USEPA EnergyStar for Kids: http://www.energystar.gov/index.cfm?c=kids.kids_index
· EnergyNet, Energy Efficiency Curriculum and Resource Materials for Schools:
http://www.energynet.net/eninfo/national_invitation.html
· U.S. Dept. of Energy—Get Smart about Energy: http://apps1.eere.energy.gov/education/lessonplans/
· Project Learning Tree (PLT) “Energy & Society” http://www.plt.org/ (To order, contact state PLT coordinator, 405-522-6158.)
· Energy Explained, an energy website by the Energy Information Administration (EIA) is full of graphs, data, and scientific information that can add depth to high school curricula in Science, Math, or Social Studies. www.eia.doe.gov/energyexplained
· OG&E—“Living Wise” Program: http://www.oge.com/residential-customers/save-energy-and-money/EnergyEfficiency/Pages/LivingWiseKits.aspx / or call 405.553.3597.
· OG&E Online Kids Korner: http://www.oge.com/community/Pages/KidsKorner.aspx.
· National Wildlife Federation (NWF) Online Climate Classroom (Lesson Plans / Kids / Teens)
http://www.climateclassroom.org/
· Teaching About Climate Change – Cool Schools Tackle Global Warming, Green Teacher:
· http://www.greenteacher.com/#Green%20Teacher%20Books (Sample lessons online here: http://oklahoma.sierraclub.org/greenteacher/index.htm#Climate)
· Oklahoma Windpower Initiative (OWPI) curriculum guide: http://www.seic.okstate.edu/owpi/EducOutreach/ForTeachers.htm
WATER RESOURCES
· American Water Works Assn. (AWWA) Water Wiser Water Audit Software (free download):
http://www.awwa.org/Resources/WaterLossControl.cfm?ItemNumber=48511&navItemNumber=48158
· U.S. EPA Region 10, Water Conservation Tips for Schools: http://www.epa.gov/region01/eco/drinkwater/water_conservation_schools.html
· National Clearinghouse for Educational Facilities Water Conservation Resources: http://www.edfacilities.org/rl/water.cfm
· “Every Drop Counts!” Water Conservation Checklist for Schools: http://www.p2pays.org/ref/23/22009.pdf
· WaterWiser: the Water Efficiency Clearinghouse- Calculate water leak amounts: http://www.awwa.org/awwa/waterwiser/dripcalc.cfm
· EPA Low Impact Development (solutions for storm water run-off include green roofs, rain gardens and rainwater catchment): http://www.epa.gov/nps/lid/ (9-minute online video: http://www.epa.gov/owow/nps/lid/video.html)
WATER EDUCATION
· OK Project WET (curriculum correlated to OK PASS skills: http://www.okcc.state.ok.us/ED/ED_projectwet.htm
· Oklahoma Water Resources Board (OWRB) OK Water Data: http://www.owrb.ok.gov/
· (includes Virtual Wetlands Tour, Interactive Maps, OK Water Atlas, OK Water Tour, OK Water Facts, and more)
· OK Water Watch lake monitoring (temporarily inactive, but some resources are available here: http://www.owrb.ok.gov/quality/monitoring/watch/wwatch.php)
· OK Blue Thumb stream monitoring program/education & training for students & teachers: http://bluethumbok.com/
· EPA Teaching Resources for Water: http://www.epa.gov/teachers/water.htm
· EPA Groundwater Primer: http://www.purdue.edu/dp/envirosoft/groundwater/src/ground.htm
· Water Environmental Federation (WEF) K-12 Curriculum: http://www.wef.org/AboutWater/ForEducators/CurriculumMaterials/
· Green Teacher lessons: http://oklahoma.sierraclub.org/greenteacher/index.htm#Water
WASTE & RECYCLING
· U.S. EPA WasteWise Program - Tools to Reduce Waste in Schools: http://www.epa.gov/epawaste/education/pdfs/toolkit/tools.pdf
· School Recycling Implementation Plan: http://www.recycleok.org/educational-resources.php Find other relevant information here in the Oklahoma Recycling Association (OKRA) School Resources Section
· Illinois Greening Schools Waste Reduction: http://www.greeningschools.org/resources/view_cat_teacher.cfm?id=13
· How to Start and Sustain A School or Business Recycling Program: http://www.recycleok.org/pdf/Start-and-Sustain-Recycling-Program.pdf
· Cornell Waste Management Institute: http://cwmi.css.cornell.edu/composting.htm
· Connecticut School Composting Manual: http://www.ct.gov/dep/lib/dep/compost/compost_pdf/schmanual.pdf
PURCHASING
· The EPA’s green procurement site is designed to assist procurement officials in smart purchasing decisions. Take advantage of online training to understand the full range of purchasing opportunities: http://www.energystar.gov/index.cfm?c=bulk_purchasing. bus_purchasing_key_benefits#online; Review case studies and the key benefits of purchasing ENERGY STAR-qualified products: http://www.energystar.gov/index.cfm ?c=bulk_purchasing.bus_purchasing_key_benefits#case_studies
· U.S. General Services Administration, Environmental Products and Services Guide: http://www.gsa.gov/Portal/gsa/ep/home
· Green Seal, Product Recommendations: http://www.greenseal.org/
· U.S. EPA, Environmentally Preferable Purchasing: http://www.epa.gov/opptintr/epp/
· Solid Waste Management Coordinating Board (MN), Environmentally Preferable Purchasing Guide: http://www.swmcb.org/
· Buy Recycled Business Alliance, Growing a Buy Recycled Purchasing Program: A Manager’s Guide: http://www.greenerbuildings.com/files/document/CustomO16C45F54320.pdf
FOOD SERVICE
· DEQ “Food for Thought-Best Management Practices for Food Handling Facilities”: http://www.deq.state.ok.us/pubs/CSD/food4thought.pdf
· Inform Inc., Waste at Work: Prevention Strategies for the Bottom Line, Food Services
http://www.informinc.org/wasteatwork.php
· P2RX, Waste Reduction Resource Center, Food Service – P2 Opportunities
http://wrrc.p2pays.org/p2rx/subsection.asp?hub=448&subsec=4&nav=4
· Inform Inc., Getting an “A” for Lunch: Smart Strategies in Reducing Waste in Campus Dining: http://www.informinc.org/getatlunch.php
· Zero Waste Lunchroom (California): http://www.ciwmb.ca.gov/schools/wastereduce/Food/ZeroWaste.htm
· Oklahoma Farm to School Program (healthy locally grown food for schools): http://www.okfarmtoschool.com/
· Made in Oklahoma Products: http://www.madeinoklahoma.net/
· Oklahoma Food Cooperative (local producers): http://www.oklahomafood.coop
· Kerr Center for Sustainable Agriculture Buy Fresh, Buy Local Campaign: http://www.kerrcenter.com/buy-fresh.htm
· Healthy Tools to Help All School Lunch Programs: www.thelunchbox.org
WASTE & RECYCLING EDUCATION
· Solid Waste Management Resource Trunks are now available for loan to K-12 educators Oklahoma Cooperative Extension Service. For description of contents and application for loan, go here: http://agecon.okstate.edu/waste/files/TrunkApplicationForm.pdf
· EPA Teacher Resources Page: http://www.epa.gov/teachers/waste.htm and Kids Site for Garbage & Recycling: http://www.epa.gov/kids/garbage.htm
· Project Learning Tree (PLT) Municipal Solid Waste module available by contacting state PLT coordinator at 405-522-6158.
· The Greens Activity Guide for Ages 9-12: http://meetthegreens.pbskids.org/features/
· OKRA Recycling Websites for Kids/Teens: http://www.recycleok.org/pdf/Recycling-Websites-for-Kids.pdf
· Ask.Com recycling page: http://www.ask.com/questions-about/Recycling-Process
· Cornell University Teacher Page: http://compost.css.cornell.edu/resources.html
· Cornell Solid Waste Education Activities for grades 9-12: http://cwmi.css.cornell.edu/TrashGoesToSchool/Activities9-12.html
· Worms Eat Our Garbage (Classroom activities for grades 3-8/$22.95): http://www.wormwoman.com/acatalog/
· Recycling lesson plans online: http://www.atozteacherstuff.com/Themes/Recycling/ or http://www.theteachersguide.com/Recyclinglessonplans.htm\
OK DEQ brochures:
· Worm Composting: http://www.deq.state.ok.us/factsheets/local/worms.pdf
· How to Build Compost Bins (several different plans provided): http://www.deq.state.ok.us/pubs/lpd/compostbins.pdf
· Make Every Day A Waste-Free Lunch Day: http://www.deq.state.ok.us/pubs/lpd/wstfrlnch.pdf
· How to Make A Locker Clean-Out an Environmental Event: http://www.deq.state.ok.us/factsheets/general/lockercl.pdf
· List of Solid Waste Resources for Schools: http://www.recycleok.org/pdf/SchoolSWResources2008.pdf
America Recycles Day printable packet: http://www.deq.state.ok.us/pubs/lpd/ard.pdf
ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY
INDOOR AIR QUALITY
· U.S. EPA, Indoor Air Quality Tools for Schools Action Kit (free) / Order here: http://www.epa.gov/iaq/schools/actionkit.html (Kits will be provided by the OK Green Schools Committee for 2009-2010 Pilot Program participants.)
· Healthy Schools Network, Guides and Materials: http://www.healthyschools.org/
· Healthy Schools Campaign Clean Green Schools: http://www.healthyschoolscampaign.org/programs/gcs/guide2/
· Cleaning for Healthy Schools Toolkit: http://www.cleaningforhealthyschools.org (Green Cleaning starter kit provided by OK Green Schools Committee for 2009-2010 Pilot Program participants.)
· INFORM Cleaning for Healthy Schools Toolkit: http://www.informinc.org/project_cleaning_health.php
· Healthy Schools Kids Page & Green Squad Poster: http://www.healthyschools.org/kids_page.html
LABORATORY WASTE
· Battelle Seattle Research Center, Laboratory Waste Minimization and Pollution Prevention checklist: http://www.p2pays.org/ref/01/text/00779/app-a.htm
· Council of State Science Supervisors, Science Education Safety checklists:
http://www.csss-science.org/safety.shtml
· Safe Labs that Don’t Pollute (a variety of resources for parents, teachers, and students): http://www.govlink.org/hazwaste/schoolyouth/index.cfm
MERCURY USE
U.S. EPA Mercury in the Environment: EPA's Schools Chemical Cleanout Campaign addresses mercury and other unnecessarily hazardous chemicals in schools by proactively cleaning these chemicals out of schools, and going a step further to implement mechanisms to prevent their reappearance in schools.
http://www.epa.gov/superfund/accomp/news/mercury.htm
· EPA Mercury in Schools Case Studies describe common sources of mercury that were found present in local schools, and describes actions that were taken to reduce accidental exposures to mercury and to promote proper disposal of mercury-containing materials:
http://www.epa.gov/mercury/casestudies.htm
· “Mercury: An Educator’s Toolkit” is a two-disc DVD and CD package that contains a variety of activities, educational videos, and other information designed to enhance students’ understanding of mercury and its potential health hazards. http://www.epa.gov/region7/mercury/educator_toolkit.htm
· EPA Healthy School Environment Mercury Resources (lots of resources are listed here): http://cfpub.epa.gov/schools/top_sub.cfm?t_id=41&s_id=30
MOLD
· U.S. EPA, Mold Prevention in Schools: http://www.epa.gov/iaq/molds/prevention.html
· Mold Remediation in Schools and Commercial Buildings: http://www.epa.gov/mold/publications.html
SCHOOL SITE
BUILDING CONSTRUCTION & RENOVATION
· USGBC Green Schools: www.buildgreenschools.org
· Collaborative for High Performance Schools (new construction), Best Practices Manual:
http://www.chps.net/manual/documents/Criteria/CA_CHPS_Criteria_III_2009.pdf
· National Clearinghouse for Educational Facilities – High Performance Building Resource Lists: http://www.edfacilities.org/rl/high_performance.cfm
· Sustainable Buildings Industry Council, special online "classroom" about High-Performance School Buildings: http://www.buildingmedia.com/sbic/
· Alliance to Save Energy, Sustainable School Construction: http://www.ase.org/greenschools/newconstruction2.htm#what
· Interstate Renewable Energy Council, Schools Going Solar: http://irecusa.org/index.php?id=36
GROUNDSKEEPING
· Oklahoma Department of Agriculture, Food and Forestry (ODAFF)- OK Forestry Services Division: http://www.forestry.ok.gov
· U.S. EPA, A Sourcebook on Natural Landscaping for Public Officials:
http://www.epa.gov/glnpo/greenacres/toolkit/index.html
DEQ Edible School Garden Planning Guide: http://www.deq.state.ok.us/mainlinks/ediblegardens.htm
· EPA Low Impact Development: http://www.EPA.gov/nps/lid/ (stormwater projects such as raingardens, rain barrels, vegetated rooftop, permeable pavement)
· Greening School Grounds - Creating Habitats for Learning (step-by-step instructions for schoolyard projects such as tree nurseries, composting, native plants, etc.) Green Teacher:
http://www.greenteacher.com/#Green%20Teacher%20Books
· School Gardens in Los Angeles County, California (great photos): http://celosangeles.ucdavis.edu/files/54666.pdf
INTEGRATED PEST MANAGEMENT (IPM)
· The IPM Institute of North America, IPM for School Landscapes and Grounds
http://www.ipminstitute.org/school_grounds.htm
· U.S. EPA Region V, Pollution Prevention Education Toolbox, Pesticide Reduction
http://www.epa.gov/reg5rcra/wptdiv/p2pages/pestici.pdf
· OSU Cooperative Extension IPM: http://entoplp.okstate.edu/ipm/
TRANSPORTATION
Air Quality Information
· OK Dept. of Environmental Quality: http://www.deq.state.ok.us/aqdnew/index.htm
· American Lung Association of Oklahoma: www.lungusa.org/oklahoma/
· Association of Central OK Governments (ACOG) Clean Cities Partnership: http://www.okcleancities.com/
· Indian Nation Council of Governments (INCOG) Clean Cities Partnership: http://www.tulsacleancities.com/
Air Quality Educational Resources
· OK DEQ Resources: http://www.deq.state.ok.us/aqdnew/education/education.htm
· EPA: http://www.epa.gov/smartway/index.htm
· Cool School Challenge (Puget Sound): www.coolschoolchallenge.org
This education program engages students and teachers in practical strategies to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Through changes in transportation behaviors as well as increased recycling and other conservation actions, participants learn how simple actions can create a climate of change.
· Air Now: airnow.gov/index.cfm?action=aqikids_new.main This site provides children with information and activities related to air quality. U.S. EPA, NOAA, NPS, tribal, state, and local agencies developed the AIR Now Web site to provide the public with easy access to national air quality information (AQI). Includes Oklahoma City, Tulsa and Lawton
· Air & Waste Management Association Curriculum: http://www.awma.org/enviro_edu/resources1/index.html
Anti-idling
· US EPA: Sample Idling Policy: www.epa.gov/cleanschoolbus/idling_policy.htm
Sample plans, letters to parents, pledges, policies, success stories
· US EPA: Clean School Bus: www.epa.gov/cleanschoolbus/idle_fuel_calc.htm
Use EPA online calculator to calculate the amount of fuel and money your school/district could save by reducing the amount of time school buses idle.
· Airwatch Northwest: www.airwatchnorthwest.org/anti-idling.htm Idling Reduction Toolkit: airwatchnorthwest.org/wa/NO_IDLE/Measure_Idling.html#top
Measuring Idling in school zones:
airwatchnorthwest.org/wa/NO_IDLE/PDFs/Idlingmeasurement_form.pdf
Vehicle Idle Measurement Form
Bicycling and Walking
· Feet First: www.feetfirst.info/
· International Walk to School Web site: www.iwalktoschool.org/index.htm
· Walking audits: www.walkable.org/download/walking_audits.pdf
· Walking School Bus Program: www.walktoschool.org/
· King County LUTAQH: A walkable community equals a healthier community: your.kingcounty.gov/exec/news/2006/pdf/lutaqhupdated.pdf
Bicycle Safety Information
· Bicycle Groups in Oklahoma: http://www.oklahomabicyclesociety.com/clublst.htm
· Bike Safety for Kids: http://www.nhtsa.dot.gov/people/injury/pedbimot/bike/KidsandBikeSafetyWeb/
· Bikeability Checklist: http://www.bicyclinginfo.org/library/details.cfm?id=3
· Bikesafe (Resources & Tools): http://www.bicyclinginfo.org/bikesafe/
Buses
· Diesel School Bus Retrofit Program: http://www.deq.state.ok.us/aqdnew/cleandiesel/index.html
Calculators of Greenhouse Gas Emissions and Fuel Efficiency
· EPA: Greenhouse Gas Equivalencies Calculator: epa.gov/cleanenergy/energy-resources/calculator.html
· EPA: Green Vehicle Guide: http://www.epa.gov/greenvehicles/
· Compare the fuel economy of different vehicles between classes of vehicles.
fueleconomy.gov/ Use an online calculator to calculate your emissions (CO2 in tons, etc.) www.fueleconomy.gov/feg/savemoney.shtml Compare the savings in fuel costs alone from different vehicle choices
· U.S. General Services Administration (GSA) Fleet & Automotive: http://www.gsa.gov/Portal/gsa/ep/contentView.do?contentType=GSA_OVERVIEW&contentId=28083
Carpooling and ride-matching information
· Rideshare Online: www.rideshareonline.com/
· University of Washington, Evans School of Public Affairs Report: Transportation Demand Strategies for Schools: depts.washington.edu/trac/bulkdisk/pdf/685.1.pdf
SCHOOL SITE EDUCATION
· ODAFF Forestry Kids Page: http://www.forestry.ok.gov/for-kids
· ODAFF Natural Resources & Education: http://www.forestry.ok.gov/natural-resource-environmental-education
· Green Teacher: Greening School Grounds-Creating Habitats for Learning:
http://www.greenteacher.com/#Green%20Teacher%20Books
· U.S. Green Building Council Build Green Schools site: http://www.buildgreenschools.org/ and LEED for Schools: http://www.buildgreenschools.org/leed/
· Green Teacher sample lessons:
http://oklahoma.sierraclub.org/greenteacher/index.htm#Transportation
Sunday, May 1, 2011
National PLT Invitates Salman and Mrs. Clay to Youth Board and PLT Coordinators Conference
Please welcome Caroline Amport, the new Executive Director for NH Project Learning Tree. Caroline can be reached at 603-226-0160 or caroline@nhplt.org.
2011 PLT Coordinators’ Conference Update
You can also register on-site at the hotel in Montgomery!
Hotel: Contact La Torretta Resort directly to make your hotel reservations. To receive the negotiated room rate, call 1-877-286-9590 and identify yourself as part of American Forest Foundation – Project Learning
Tree group.
New PLT Websitekcooper@forestfoundation.org if you see errors
2011 GreenWorks! GrantsGreenWorks! We are happy to announce that in 2011, GreenWorks! funding is back! A new grant proposal will be posted to the website in early May, featuring maximum grant awards of $1,000 and a deadline of September 30, 2011. Funds will be distributed to awarded projects in December for the completion of environmental service-learning projects throughout the 2012 calendar year.
GreenSchools! Students from a SC PLT GreenSchoolat NYLC Conference in AtlantaEarlier this month, students from the Green Team at Lowcountry Preparatory School in Pawleys Island, SC travelled to Atlanta, GA for the National Youth Leadership Council’s National Service-Learning Conference. They joined National PLT staff members James McGirt and Al Stenstrup to co-present a session about PLT’s GreenSchools! program that was attended by 40 conference participants. The student representatives consisted of five sophomore students (Elizabeth Zieser, Maddy Gates, Carolyn Culbertson, Rachael Exum, and Emily Goins) who have been their school’s Green Team leaders during the past year. They were mentored by two faculty members, Science Instructor Michelle Neubauer and English Instructor Shannon Lewis. Carla Rapp, GA PLT State Coordinator, also joined us at the conference.
The students were the key ingredients of the presentation. They shared their work by demonstrating the use of monitoring equipment, presenting their PLT GreenSchool success story, along with data they have collected as a result of conducting the PLT GreenSchools! Investigations.
The students showed great leadership and poise in sharing their story, and answered numerous questions from other students and faculty in the audience to demonstrate how they too could reduce their school’s environmental footprint while learning core subjects. Several of the schools represented in the audience have since registered on the PLT GreenSchools! website.
The Lowcountry Prep students also participated in other events at the conference, including visiting a university in Atlanta and having many discussions with other student leaders from across the country.
During the last year, the PLT GreenSchools! program has supported Green Teams from seven different schools to speak about and celebrate their work at national education conferences. This emphasis on “youth voice” is providing students a national stage to demonstrate the skills and talents of students participating in PLT’s GreenSchools! program.
GreenSchools! National Student Advisory BoardIn other efforts to ensure authentic student voice is a driving force in PLT’s GreenSchools! service-learning program, the national PLT office held its first ever GreenSchools! Student Advisory Board conference call during the last week in March. Middle and high school students from Colorado, Connecticut, the District of Columbia, Iowa, Kansas, Maryland, Missouri, New Jersey, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Virginia, and Washington participated on the call, along with four teachers. These conscientious and innovative students plan to have monthly conference calls to:
Review PLT GreenSchools! action grant proposals in fall of 2011 Provide leadership and mentoring to new PLT GreenSchools! Green Teams Participate in online PLT GreenSchools! tutorials Develop strategies to support local, national, and global environmental initiatives
Other states with potential middle or high school student candidates for the PLT GreenSchools! Student Advisory Board are encouraged to send names to James at jmcgirt@forestfoundation.org.
Curriculum Update
(October 27-29), New Orleans, LA (November 10-12), and Seattle, WA (December 8-10.) National PLT will once again attend, present, and host an exhibit. We hope to see some of you there!
2011 International Year of Forests
On March 30, AFF co-hosted with the USDA Forest Service and National Association of State Foresters a special celebration in Washington, DC to mark the official U.S. launch of 2011 International Year of Forests.
We were pleased that Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack chose our event to announce the USDA’s new strategy to promote the use of wood as a green building material. Congressmen Goodlatte (R-VA) and Schrader (D-OR) also spoke to voice their support for policies that help sustain America’s forests. Five State Foresters, key Administration officials, and over 300 environmental and industry leaders attended the event.
2011 PLT Coordinators’ Conference Update
You can also register on-site at the hotel in Montgomery!
Hotel: Contact La Torretta Resort directly to make your hotel reservations. To receive the negotiated room rate, call 1-877-286-9590 and identify yourself as part of American Forest Foundation – Project Learning
Tree group.
New PLT Websitekcooper@forestfoundation.org if you see errors
2011 GreenWorks! GrantsGreenWorks! We are happy to announce that in 2011, GreenWorks! funding is back! A new grant proposal will be posted to the website in early May, featuring maximum grant awards of $1,000 and a deadline of September 30, 2011. Funds will be distributed to awarded projects in December for the completion of environmental service-learning projects throughout the 2012 calendar year.
GreenSchools! Students from a SC PLT GreenSchoolat NYLC Conference in AtlantaEarlier this month, students from the Green Team at Lowcountry Preparatory School in Pawleys Island, SC travelled to Atlanta, GA for the National Youth Leadership Council’s National Service-Learning Conference. They joined National PLT staff members James McGirt and Al Stenstrup to co-present a session about PLT’s GreenSchools! program that was attended by 40 conference participants. The student representatives consisted of five sophomore students (Elizabeth Zieser, Maddy Gates, Carolyn Culbertson, Rachael Exum, and Emily Goins) who have been their school’s Green Team leaders during the past year. They were mentored by two faculty members, Science Instructor Michelle Neubauer and English Instructor Shannon Lewis. Carla Rapp, GA PLT State Coordinator, also joined us at the conference.
The students were the key ingredients of the presentation. They shared their work by demonstrating the use of monitoring equipment, presenting their PLT GreenSchool success story, along with data they have collected as a result of conducting the PLT GreenSchools! Investigations.
The students showed great leadership and poise in sharing their story, and answered numerous questions from other students and faculty in the audience to demonstrate how they too could reduce their school’s environmental footprint while learning core subjects. Several of the schools represented in the audience have since registered on the PLT GreenSchools! website.
The Lowcountry Prep students also participated in other events at the conference, including visiting a university in Atlanta and having many discussions with other student leaders from across the country.
During the last year, the PLT GreenSchools! program has supported Green Teams from seven different schools to speak about and celebrate their work at national education conferences. This emphasis on “youth voice” is providing students a national stage to demonstrate the skills and talents of students participating in PLT’s GreenSchools! program.
GreenSchools! National Student Advisory BoardIn other efforts to ensure authentic student voice is a driving force in PLT’s GreenSchools! service-learning program, the national PLT office held its first ever GreenSchools! Student Advisory Board conference call during the last week in March. Middle and high school students from Colorado, Connecticut, the District of Columbia, Iowa, Kansas, Maryland, Missouri, New Jersey, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Virginia, and Washington participated on the call, along with four teachers. These conscientious and innovative students plan to have monthly conference calls to:
Review PLT GreenSchools! action grant proposals in fall of 2011 Provide leadership and mentoring to new PLT GreenSchools! Green Teams Participate in online PLT GreenSchools! tutorials Develop strategies to support local, national, and global environmental initiatives
Other states with potential middle or high school student candidates for the PLT GreenSchools! Student Advisory Board are encouraged to send names to James at jmcgirt@forestfoundation.org.
Curriculum Update
(October 27-29), New Orleans, LA (November 10-12), and Seattle, WA (December 8-10.) National PLT will once again attend, present, and host an exhibit. We hope to see some of you there!
2011 International Year of Forests
On March 30, AFF co-hosted with the USDA Forest Service and National Association of State Foresters a special celebration in Washington, DC to mark the official U.S. launch of 2011 International Year of Forests.
We were pleased that Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack chose our event to announce the USDA’s new strategy to promote the use of wood as a green building material. Congressmen Goodlatte (R-VA) and Schrader (D-OR) also spoke to voice their support for policies that help sustain America’s forests. Five State Foresters, key Administration officials, and over 300 environmental and industry leaders attended the event.
Thursday, April 14, 2011
REFLECTION of NAIS Challenge 20/20- 7 years/ Poverty & Global Warming
From Turkey:
At the beginning of this school year, our students read the part about global warming in Rischard’s book: “High Noon: 20 Problems / 20 Years To Solve Them”, then they watched the documantery of Al Gore; “Inconvenient Truth” to have some idea about different opinions on the problem. During student club sessions they made researches about the effects of global warming, especially in our city. The most significant fact that they realized was the limited attempts to prevent global warming and diminish the effects of climate change. During these researches, they’ve found that the consumption of fossil fuels in our country is the most important reason of extreme climate events like floods and drought in our country. In this context, they made a survey in our school with teachers to find out some information about the percentage of motor vehicles used by teachers.
After the first Skype meeting with Salman, our students were excited about making a project about carbon footprint of our school, but unfortunately our resources were limited for the project. We have contacted some companies to help us but the prices they charged were too high for us. Therefore, we decided to get help from the department of Environmental Sciences of Middle East Technical University for the next school year.
Our school year ends on June, 17. Until this date we have plans to accomodate a guest speaker from UNDP (United Nations Developmental Projects) about carbon footprint. Our aim is to make our school one of the leading schools in our city that assimilated the importance of being an environmental friendly community. In this context, we are going to take part in a project called CLIMES which aims mentoring schools in Turkey about being green schools. During this project, some of our students and teachers will be educated in one of the European countries for a week and they will educate other teachers and students in our school to take steps in being a green school.
Our students raised some money by fairs and will use this money for their future projects about raising awareness about global warming in our community. They have started with preparing a powerpoint presentation about the problem and it’s effects on Turkey to educate primary school students in both private and public schools. They also started a campaign to encourage students in our school to involve in the “Tree Planting Fair” that is organized each year by Middle East Technical University. They are trying to raise awareness around school community about using public transport instead of using individual vehicles for transportation to and from school.
As being a private school, we have the opportunity to make changes in our curriculum so we have integrated the topic global warming in our Biology and Geography curriculums at each level in our high school. This topic was already being covered in national curriculum but we extended the hours of lessons that we talk about global warming and effects of climate change. During these lessons we make our students watch movies, documentaries and read articles about the topic to emphasize the importance of the problem. Also our Turkish Literature and Language department organizes debates to encourage our students to share ideas about environmental problems.
During this years partnership in Challenge 20/20, we had some Skype meetings but unfortunately it was diffucult to contact each week as we can come together once a week on Thursdays and because of time difference between two countries we were able to communicate for only 10-15 minutes.Therefore, we preffered to communicate via email which was more convenient for us. As our partnership progressed, we were amazed by the works done by Salman and greatly appreciated his efforts as being such an enthusiastic young person. I don’t know if Salman will still be in your school but we wish to continue our partnership with you for the next years Challenge 20 /20 project on the same topic.
The history of Challenge 20/20 @ Casady School
In the school year 2010-2011 NAIS Challenge 20/20 became a path to peace for a freshman student.
Salman, a student who came from the only Oklahoma Green School in 2010, Deer Creek, stated that he wanted to create a Green Team for Casady School as his path to peace. He also had the goal of motivating other schools in our city and globally to LIVE GREEN. He developed a partnerhip and applied to be a member of the Oklahoma Green Schools Pilot Program. http://www.okgreenschools.org/ In the summer, Salman and Shiva will spend time as interns at the Department of Environmental Quality to learn more about recycling and provide the youth perspective to the Oklahoma Green Schools website.
NAIS Challenge 20/20 provided a school in Turkey as a partner for Salman this year. The School in Turkey changed from reforestation to global warming to become Casady's partner school.
The teams communicated twice in 2010 and twice in 2011 via SKYPE. The sponsor in Turkey changed due to maternity leave of absence. Salman offered Mr. Les Pace, energy expert from Oklahoma Green Schools and the Green School website, as resources for the Turkey program.
Salman read parts of the book, High Noon, and then concentrated in learning about the Green Schools Oklahoma program and helping them find a kids' friendly carbon footprint online calculator. He realized he had been led at Deer Creek, but he did not know enough to lead others with the tools provided by the Green Schools Pilot program. During MLK Day, he organized a "train the trainer" workshop, where interested Casady students had the opportunity to help the Oklahoma Green Schoool decide what kids and teacher friendly carbon footprint survey they were going to promote in their website. Experts from the Oklahoma Green Schools use this time with possible members of the Casady Green Team YES to demonstrate how to use energy audit tools also.
Salman helped recruit Mercy School as a pilot Green School and did a follow-up with Keystone Adventure School, an elementary school, which due to flooding, did not finish its certification as a green school last year.
Salman in collaboration with Mr. Les Pace also helped a Casady 7th grader do an energy audit of the 7th grade rooms as her project for the Casady MD science fair. Katie's energy audit project won first place in the science competition regionals.
April, 5-9, 2011, Salman attended the National Service-Learning Conference in Atlanta, where he had a short presentation of his path to peace, Greening Oklahoma, one school and one person at a time to the Shinnyo-en fellows and participants interested in the stories of how 3 schools around the USA (Casady-OKC, Blake School-Minneapolis, and White Plains-New York) were Actualizing the Six Billion Paths to Peace Initiative of the Shinnyo-en Foundation http://www.sef.org/.
Upon Salman's return to Oklahoma City, Shiva joined the Casady Green Team and helped Salman work at the Planet Nichols Hills Earth Day Birthday Celebration. Salman and Shiva had a booth where they demonstrated the Green Schools Tool Kit and motivated people to take an online carbon footprint survey. They are conducting energy audits of our LEED certified math building and have started a turn off lights and computers campaign in the Upper Division at the end of each school day.
Shiva and Mrs. Clay participated in the Environmental Club, Adopt a Street Clean-up to celebrate Earth Day. The clean-up was part of a city initiative sponsored by OKC Beautiful http://okcbeautiful.com/index.php called Litter Blitz. As the article http://newsok.com/litter-blitz-focuses-on-cigarette-butts-in-oklahoma-city/article/3560439 states, Casady students also found out that the majority of the litter comes from cigarrette buds. Salman had intentions of asking Environmental Club students to take the carbon footprint survey before or after the clean-up, but due to illness, he was unable to attend.
Mrs. Clay requested interested Environmental Club take the ecological footprint survey available at the the Green School website. The few people who took the ecological footprint realized that it took at least 5 earths to allow us to live the way we live now.
In the area of poverty and hunger in the school year 2010-2011, Challenge 20/20 YAC was not assigned an NAIS partner school. Casady YAC focused on working with two local non-profits fighting poverty, Regional Food Bank of Oklahoma and Habitat for Humanity. In collaboration with STUCO, the Casady YAC; intergenerational advisory council with one purpose, SERVE, helped raise awareness, funding and cans for the Food Bank in November. On May 29, 2011, a member of YAC will be faciliting our 7th Walk the World OKC in collaboration with the Food Bank and the United Nations of Greater Oklahoma.
Jasmine facilitated YAC's first Global Youth Service Day at the Food Bank where she promoted the walk. Jasmine, Shiva, and John attended the UN annual lunch to promote the walk. The goal this year is to raise awareness and the number of walkers coming with at least a $10 donation for a lap around the lake. During Global Youth Service Day at the Food Bank, Jasmine motivated people to learn about the UN World Food Programme and child feeding programs at the Food Bank.
The Casady Student Council led the fundraising efforts for Habitat for Humanity and YAC member Cecil facilitated the construction of the first house Casady students partially build. STUCO in collaboration with YAC and winter sports athletes and coaches framed "our habitat house" on MLK day. We also helped place the rafters and did exterior and interior painting and touch up as well as being present at the dedication ceremony of the house. STUCO presented a check to the CEO of Habitat for close to $3,000 raised in various fundraising activities.
Due to the economic crisis, the global education service-learning program with Peru stayed dormant in the year 2010-2011.
FULL HISTORY
Casady Challenge 20/20 was a roller coaster ride, worth the price of admission, of youth voice, choice, and process from its inception. Our Challenge 20/20 exploration started when Andrew Griffin’07 was a freshman. His idea was to import children’s art from remote villages, sell it and use the proceeds to meet educational needs. NAIS paired Andrew with a Ugandan high school and a museum youth board in Ollantaytambo, Peru. The relationship with the school was short, but the high school’s Headmaster has visited Oklahoma City and our campus several times. Our community has supported his school’s needs for several years. Andrew’s search for a local partner culminated with World Neighbors (WN). Andrew discovered that a relative of his was the founder of WN. WorldFest, their yearly fundraiser, sold imported goods from villages with proceeds supporting projects in those villages. This made World Neighbors a perfect Challenge 20/20 project for Andrew. He became a founding member of the WN Youth Board. In the two years that Andrew led the Board, they raised $20,000. Casady students still participate in World Neighbors WorldFest activities.
Andrew found fertile ground for his vision in two younger creative students, Leann Farha’08 and Ankita Prasad’08. Leann organized a grassroots Walk the World OKC’05 benefiting the United Nations World Food Programme, School Feeding. She participated in Walk the World 2005 debriefing in Rome, Italy. Upon her return from Italy, Leann led Walk the World OKC’2006-2008 raising $25,000. Leann’s efforts led to an increased number of walkers every year and became a citywide outreach. She was also an active WN Youth Board member. Her work continued in June 2009 when a group of freshmen boys led by Graham Bennett’12 had their first Walk the World OKC 2009. Leann believes that four years with the project enabled her to overcome insecurities and transformed a shy girl, terrified of public speaking into a confident leader, an effective communicator, and organizer. She stated, “I received more than I gave fighting to eradicate childhood hunger.”
Our relationship with the museum youth board in Peru started very simply with their bilingual exposure to the book High Noon. The museum’s youth board sought collaboration with a local elementary school of Ollantaytambo, Peru. They joined Leann to raise awareness of global hunger. They hosted a Walk the World,Ollantaytambo’06. Manco Inca Elementary School became our Global Service-Learning Education partner after the walk. In June 2008, the first group of Casady Service-learning students arrived in Ollantaytambo. In June 2009, the second group followed. Fifteen Casady students and three faculty members traveled to Peru to participate in a combined service, language immersion, and homestay experience managed by World Leadership School. In collaboration with other independent schools such as Lakeside of Seattle (in its 8th year in Ollantaytambo) and Groton School of Boston, Casady students are transforming a pile of rubble into the ecological playground –“LAND OF CHILDREN”- designed and maintained by the children. The children with guidance from US teens have also developed a full recycling program for their school and are expanding the program to their homes and town. The teens from the United States have gained knowledge of the Quechua language, enhanced understanding of fair trade practices, and an appreciation of a slow pace of life that reverances nature. The Ollantaytambo “Land of Children” is being documented via donated digital cameras and blogs. In June 2009, Casady students presented their experience in Ollantaytambo at the Second International Service-Learning Conference in Teacher Education in Galway, Ireland. Casady students will return to Ollantaytambo in June, 2010 when they will promote the creation of a trilingual picture book of the Ollantaytambo, Land of Children experience. The faculty leader of the second Ollantaytambo trip, Kari Bornhoft, stated, “When asked to take a group of students to Peru, I had mixed emotions. I would have the chance to see one of the great wonders of the world (Machu Picchu), to experience another Latin culture, to spend time with a group of students in a way no other educator can in normal conditions… The two weeks I spent in Peru were exhausting. It was an incredible learning experience for both the students and faculty. We grew as a team and did equally as individuals. All of us had our highs and lows and as we were stretched found our capabilities mentally, physically, and emotionally.”
During her freshman year, Ankita Prasad’08 wore a “can costume” to motivate lower division students to donate for our canned food drive. As Ankita learned about related global issues of poverty and the problems with consistent communication with our partners, she realized that perhaps the best focus was the creation of global issues youth councils following the guidelines for Global Issues Networks described in High Noon. She promoted the idea with our partners in Uganda and Peru without success. Ankita attended the Challenge 20/20 leaders’ conference in Boston and became a member of the Students against Hunger Youth Board at the Regional Food Bank of Oklahoma and of the World Neighbors Youth Board. She was also a “priceless” summer intern at World Neighbors and she became the preferred youth advisor when organizations explored youth board possibilities for their institutions. As the leader of Challenge 20/20, the canned food drive became the Casady Cans Do Project. Casady Cans Do quadrupled our whole school contribution to the Food Bank during Ankita’s tenure. She added learning components such as categorization games and canned sculpture competitions. She promoted “Food Bank Lunches” to raise awareness of what meals the Food Bank provides from donations and inspired ceramics classes to make bowls for auction during the Food Bank lunch as a reminder of the kids whose bowls would be empty in the evening. Proceeds of the Empty Bowls Silent Auction went to the Regional Food Bank of Oklahoma Food-4-Kids Program. She was also part of Walk the World, but her goal was to seek funding and awareness of the hunger problem in Oklahoma City. Ankita presented Casady's NAIS Challenge 20/20 at the First International Service-Learning Conference in Teacher Education in Brussels and developed an informal partnership with one of the conference participants, a history teacher, from the American School in Brussels. She also presented the NAIS Challenge 20/20 opportunity at the Department of Environmental Quality-Earth Day 2008 Celebration at the Oklahoma City Zoo. Ankita stated, “Service Learning is a great way for Casady students to give back to their community. I believe that participating in service learning not only benefits our community but also broadens student’s outlook on life. Service Learning has given me so many opportunities to change my school, my community and finally my world. Projects like Challenge 20/20 help Casady students become connected to schools across the world and discuss local problems in a global setting. The Casady Cans Do project has raised awareness and collected funds to help eradicate hunger in Oklahoma. No matter what your passion is, you can find a service learning project that is right for you.”
During Ankita’s senior year, members of the Class of 2011 shifted the focus of the Challenge 20/20 project to awareness of the human print in global warming and climate change. Rebecca Roach’11 and Josh Ou’11 are the current Challenge 20/20 leaders at Casady School. In the past two years, they have read High Noon, have seen The Inconvenient Truth, contacted Sierra Club representatives and Casady faculty to raise awareness and help promote recycling in our school. Josh and Rebecca wrote and were awarded a Facing the Future grant to provide cameras to document climate change in OKC and Peru. Our international discussion collaborators in the area of Global Warming/Climate Change challenge were the school in Brussels, Mount Saint Mary School of Pennsylvania, and the Cloud Forest School in Costa Rica. These efforts were not very successful, yet Josh created a website and we learned how to have SKYPE teleconferences with Costa Rican students.
Rebecca and Josh focused on recyling and awareness and reduction of carbon footprint and water conservation. One of the adult sponsors of this project is also interested in awareness of ecological footprint and energy conservation. Thanks to an "informal partnership" with the Oklahoma Green Schools Pilot Program, Josh has obtained recycling bins to promote recycling of cans and plastic and he is in the process of developing a stronger collaboration with the Casady Environmental Club and the Casady administrative efforts in turning our school greener. Josh stated, When I first joined the Challenge 20/20 group my freshmen year, I was completely oblivious that I would become the president of this group my junior year. During the early stages, we would have only dreamt of having a cans and plastic recycling on a regular bases; we are also in the process of constructing two new LEED buildings on our campus.”
Our new partners in 2009-2010 were a school in China and a school in New York. The Casady group tried to communicate with the school in China with no response. We managed to communicate with the school in New York a couple of times. They were active in promoting awareness of carbon footprint in younger students and we were told that they created a manual for that purpose. We asked them to send the information to be shared with our MD and LD, but the exchanged did not happened. Internally, the NAIS Challenge 20/20 work continued its focus on Global Warming. Following the leadership of the school in New York, Casady's Challenge 20/20 became more proactive at mentoring the Middle Division Environmental Club. On Earth Day, we planted 10 trees in collaboration with the Middle Division. The Green Schools Committee helped us get the trees. They also linked us to an architectural firm that enhanced our understanding of LEED constructions, since our school was building the first LEED certified building on campus. The Challenge 20/20 team promoted the usage of alluminum water bottles to replace the plastic that is polluting our oceans due to our love for convenience. NAIS Challenge 20/20 leaders, as a result of being part of the pilot green school program unoficially, received recycling containers to increase our Environmental Club recycling program from paper only to plastic and cans. During Earth Day 2010, Challenge 20/20 brought alternative energy cars on campus. Upper, Middle, and Lower Division students were introduced to electric cars. Josh, the leader of Challenge 20/20 received an award in the form of funding to attend the Six Billion Paths to Peace Retreat in San Francisco based on his work from freshmen to junior year as a Challenge 20/20 YAC member and leader. http://web.mac.com/casadycrier/iWeb/Challenge%202020%20Website/Home/Home.html.
Josh continues to be part of the Environmental Club in 2010-2011. He has provided guidance to the new leader, freshman, Salman, from time to time.
In the area of hunger, Casady YAC continued its commitment to helping end childhoood hunger by the year 2015, millennium goal of the United Nations. We had a record year of can donations to the Casady Cans Do Food Drive in the month of November 2009 under the leadership of STUCO and YAC leaders like Aamina. NAIS Challenge 20/20 Global Warming leaders, Josh and Sarah facilitated the Walk the World 2010 around the State Capitol. Freshman Shiva, became a great supporter of this walk. It was a small walk which raised about $1,000 for the United Nations World Food Programme and the Regional Food Bank of Oklahoma Food-4-Kids Program and promoted ZUMBA as an alternative way to be active and have fun.
For 2010-2011...see first part of this reflection.
At the beginning of this school year, our students read the part about global warming in Rischard’s book: “High Noon: 20 Problems / 20 Years To Solve Them”, then they watched the documantery of Al Gore; “Inconvenient Truth” to have some idea about different opinions on the problem. During student club sessions they made researches about the effects of global warming, especially in our city. The most significant fact that they realized was the limited attempts to prevent global warming and diminish the effects of climate change. During these researches, they’ve found that the consumption of fossil fuels in our country is the most important reason of extreme climate events like floods and drought in our country. In this context, they made a survey in our school with teachers to find out some information about the percentage of motor vehicles used by teachers.
After the first Skype meeting with Salman, our students were excited about making a project about carbon footprint of our school, but unfortunately our resources were limited for the project. We have contacted some companies to help us but the prices they charged were too high for us. Therefore, we decided to get help from the department of Environmental Sciences of Middle East Technical University for the next school year.
Our school year ends on June, 17. Until this date we have plans to accomodate a guest speaker from UNDP (United Nations Developmental Projects) about carbon footprint. Our aim is to make our school one of the leading schools in our city that assimilated the importance of being an environmental friendly community. In this context, we are going to take part in a project called CLIMES which aims mentoring schools in Turkey about being green schools. During this project, some of our students and teachers will be educated in one of the European countries for a week and they will educate other teachers and students in our school to take steps in being a green school.
Our students raised some money by fairs and will use this money for their future projects about raising awareness about global warming in our community. They have started with preparing a powerpoint presentation about the problem and it’s effects on Turkey to educate primary school students in both private and public schools. They also started a campaign to encourage students in our school to involve in the “Tree Planting Fair” that is organized each year by Middle East Technical University. They are trying to raise awareness around school community about using public transport instead of using individual vehicles for transportation to and from school.
As being a private school, we have the opportunity to make changes in our curriculum so we have integrated the topic global warming in our Biology and Geography curriculums at each level in our high school. This topic was already being covered in national curriculum but we extended the hours of lessons that we talk about global warming and effects of climate change. During these lessons we make our students watch movies, documentaries and read articles about the topic to emphasize the importance of the problem. Also our Turkish Literature and Language department organizes debates to encourage our students to share ideas about environmental problems.
During this years partnership in Challenge 20/20, we had some Skype meetings but unfortunately it was diffucult to contact each week as we can come together once a week on Thursdays and because of time difference between two countries we were able to communicate for only 10-15 minutes.Therefore, we preffered to communicate via email which was more convenient for us. As our partnership progressed, we were amazed by the works done by Salman and greatly appreciated his efforts as being such an enthusiastic young person. I don’t know if Salman will still be in your school but we wish to continue our partnership with you for the next years Challenge 20 /20 project on the same topic.
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The history of Challenge 20/20 @ Casady School
In the school year 2010-2011 NAIS Challenge 20/20 became a path to peace for a freshman student.
Salman, a student who came from the only Oklahoma Green School in 2010, Deer Creek, stated that he wanted to create a Green Team for Casady School as his path to peace. He also had the goal of motivating other schools in our city and globally to LIVE GREEN. He developed a partnerhip and applied to be a member of the Oklahoma Green Schools Pilot Program. http://www.okgreenschools.org/ In the summer, Salman and Shiva will spend time as interns at the Department of Environmental Quality to learn more about recycling and provide the youth perspective to the Oklahoma Green Schools website.
NAIS Challenge 20/20 provided a school in Turkey as a partner for Salman this year. The School in Turkey changed from reforestation to global warming to become Casady's partner school.
The teams communicated twice in 2010 and twice in 2011 via SKYPE. The sponsor in Turkey changed due to maternity leave of absence. Salman offered Mr. Les Pace, energy expert from Oklahoma Green Schools and the Green School website, as resources for the Turkey program.
Salman read parts of the book, High Noon, and then concentrated in learning about the Green Schools Oklahoma program and helping them find a kids' friendly carbon footprint online calculator. He realized he had been led at Deer Creek, but he did not know enough to lead others with the tools provided by the Green Schools Pilot program. During MLK Day, he organized a "train the trainer" workshop, where interested Casady students had the opportunity to help the Oklahoma Green Schoool decide what kids and teacher friendly carbon footprint survey they were going to promote in their website. Experts from the Oklahoma Green Schools use this time with possible members of the Casady Green Team YES to demonstrate how to use energy audit tools also.
Salman helped recruit Mercy School as a pilot Green School and did a follow-up with Keystone Adventure School, an elementary school, which due to flooding, did not finish its certification as a green school last year.
Salman in collaboration with Mr. Les Pace also helped a Casady 7th grader do an energy audit of the 7th grade rooms as her project for the Casady MD science fair. Katie's energy audit project won first place in the science competition regionals.
April, 5-9, 2011, Salman attended the National Service-Learning Conference in Atlanta, where he had a short presentation of his path to peace, Greening Oklahoma, one school and one person at a time to the Shinnyo-en fellows and participants interested in the stories of how 3 schools around the USA (Casady-OKC, Blake School-Minneapolis, and White Plains-New York) were Actualizing the Six Billion Paths to Peace Initiative of the Shinnyo-en Foundation http://www.sef.org/.
Upon Salman's return to Oklahoma City, Shiva joined the Casady Green Team and helped Salman work at the Planet Nichols Hills Earth Day Birthday Celebration. Salman and Shiva had a booth where they demonstrated the Green Schools Tool Kit and motivated people to take an online carbon footprint survey. They are conducting energy audits of our LEED certified math building and have started a turn off lights and computers campaign in the Upper Division at the end of each school day.
Shiva and Mrs. Clay participated in the Environmental Club, Adopt a Street Clean-up to celebrate Earth Day. The clean-up was part of a city initiative sponsored by OKC Beautiful http://okcbeautiful.com/index.php called Litter Blitz. As the article http://newsok.com/litter-blitz-focuses-on-cigarette-butts-in-oklahoma-city/article/3560439 states, Casady students also found out that the majority of the litter comes from cigarrette buds. Salman had intentions of asking Environmental Club students to take the carbon footprint survey before or after the clean-up, but due to illness, he was unable to attend.
Mrs. Clay requested interested Environmental Club take the ecological footprint survey available at the the Green School website. The few people who took the ecological footprint realized that it took at least 5 earths to allow us to live the way we live now.
In the area of poverty and hunger in the school year 2010-2011, Challenge 20/20 YAC was not assigned an NAIS partner school. Casady YAC focused on working with two local non-profits fighting poverty, Regional Food Bank of Oklahoma and Habitat for Humanity. In collaboration with STUCO, the Casady YAC; intergenerational advisory council with one purpose, SERVE, helped raise awareness, funding and cans for the Food Bank in November. On May 29, 2011, a member of YAC will be faciliting our 7th Walk the World OKC in collaboration with the Food Bank and the United Nations of Greater Oklahoma.
Jasmine facilitated YAC's first Global Youth Service Day at the Food Bank where she promoted the walk. Jasmine, Shiva, and John attended the UN annual lunch to promote the walk. The goal this year is to raise awareness and the number of walkers coming with at least a $10 donation for a lap around the lake. During Global Youth Service Day at the Food Bank, Jasmine motivated people to learn about the UN World Food Programme and child feeding programs at the Food Bank.
The Casady Student Council led the fundraising efforts for Habitat for Humanity and YAC member Cecil facilitated the construction of the first house Casady students partially build. STUCO in collaboration with YAC and winter sports athletes and coaches framed "our habitat house" on MLK day. We also helped place the rafters and did exterior and interior painting and touch up as well as being present at the dedication ceremony of the house. STUCO presented a check to the CEO of Habitat for close to $3,000 raised in various fundraising activities.
Due to the economic crisis, the global education service-learning program with Peru stayed dormant in the year 2010-2011.
FULL HISTORY
Casady Challenge 20/20 was a roller coaster ride, worth the price of admission, of youth voice, choice, and process from its inception. Our Challenge 20/20 exploration started when Andrew Griffin’07 was a freshman. His idea was to import children’s art from remote villages, sell it and use the proceeds to meet educational needs. NAIS paired Andrew with a Ugandan high school and a museum youth board in Ollantaytambo, Peru. The relationship with the school was short, but the high school’s Headmaster has visited Oklahoma City and our campus several times. Our community has supported his school’s needs for several years. Andrew’s search for a local partner culminated with World Neighbors (WN). Andrew discovered that a relative of his was the founder of WN. WorldFest, their yearly fundraiser, sold imported goods from villages with proceeds supporting projects in those villages. This made World Neighbors a perfect Challenge 20/20 project for Andrew. He became a founding member of the WN Youth Board. In the two years that Andrew led the Board, they raised $20,000. Casady students still participate in World Neighbors WorldFest activities.
Andrew found fertile ground for his vision in two younger creative students, Leann Farha’08 and Ankita Prasad’08. Leann organized a grassroots Walk the World OKC’05 benefiting the United Nations World Food Programme, School Feeding. She participated in Walk the World 2005 debriefing in Rome, Italy. Upon her return from Italy, Leann led Walk the World OKC’2006-2008 raising $25,000. Leann’s efforts led to an increased number of walkers every year and became a citywide outreach. She was also an active WN Youth Board member. Her work continued in June 2009 when a group of freshmen boys led by Graham Bennett’12 had their first Walk the World OKC 2009. Leann believes that four years with the project enabled her to overcome insecurities and transformed a shy girl, terrified of public speaking into a confident leader, an effective communicator, and organizer. She stated, “I received more than I gave fighting to eradicate childhood hunger.”
Our relationship with the museum youth board in Peru started very simply with their bilingual exposure to the book High Noon. The museum’s youth board sought collaboration with a local elementary school of Ollantaytambo, Peru. They joined Leann to raise awareness of global hunger. They hosted a Walk the World,Ollantaytambo’06. Manco Inca Elementary School became our Global Service-Learning Education partner after the walk. In June 2008, the first group of Casady Service-learning students arrived in Ollantaytambo. In June 2009, the second group followed. Fifteen Casady students and three faculty members traveled to Peru to participate in a combined service, language immersion, and homestay experience managed by World Leadership School. In collaboration with other independent schools such as Lakeside of Seattle (in its 8th year in Ollantaytambo) and Groton School of Boston, Casady students are transforming a pile of rubble into the ecological playground –“LAND OF CHILDREN”- designed and maintained by the children. The children with guidance from US teens have also developed a full recycling program for their school and are expanding the program to their homes and town. The teens from the United States have gained knowledge of the Quechua language, enhanced understanding of fair trade practices, and an appreciation of a slow pace of life that reverances nature. The Ollantaytambo “Land of Children” is being documented via donated digital cameras and blogs. In June 2009, Casady students presented their experience in Ollantaytambo at the Second International Service-Learning Conference in Teacher Education in Galway, Ireland. Casady students will return to Ollantaytambo in June, 2010 when they will promote the creation of a trilingual picture book of the Ollantaytambo, Land of Children experience. The faculty leader of the second Ollantaytambo trip, Kari Bornhoft, stated, “When asked to take a group of students to Peru, I had mixed emotions. I would have the chance to see one of the great wonders of the world (Machu Picchu), to experience another Latin culture, to spend time with a group of students in a way no other educator can in normal conditions… The two weeks I spent in Peru were exhausting. It was an incredible learning experience for both the students and faculty. We grew as a team and did equally as individuals. All of us had our highs and lows and as we were stretched found our capabilities mentally, physically, and emotionally.”
During her freshman year, Ankita Prasad’08 wore a “can costume” to motivate lower division students to donate for our canned food drive. As Ankita learned about related global issues of poverty and the problems with consistent communication with our partners, she realized that perhaps the best focus was the creation of global issues youth councils following the guidelines for Global Issues Networks described in High Noon. She promoted the idea with our partners in Uganda and Peru without success. Ankita attended the Challenge 20/20 leaders’ conference in Boston and became a member of the Students against Hunger Youth Board at the Regional Food Bank of Oklahoma and of the World Neighbors Youth Board. She was also a “priceless” summer intern at World Neighbors and she became the preferred youth advisor when organizations explored youth board possibilities for their institutions. As the leader of Challenge 20/20, the canned food drive became the Casady Cans Do Project. Casady Cans Do quadrupled our whole school contribution to the Food Bank during Ankita’s tenure. She added learning components such as categorization games and canned sculpture competitions. She promoted “Food Bank Lunches” to raise awareness of what meals the Food Bank provides from donations and inspired ceramics classes to make bowls for auction during the Food Bank lunch as a reminder of the kids whose bowls would be empty in the evening. Proceeds of the Empty Bowls Silent Auction went to the Regional Food Bank of Oklahoma Food-4-Kids Program. She was also part of Walk the World, but her goal was to seek funding and awareness of the hunger problem in Oklahoma City. Ankita presented Casady's NAIS Challenge 20/20 at the First International Service-Learning Conference in Teacher Education in Brussels and developed an informal partnership with one of the conference participants, a history teacher, from the American School in Brussels. She also presented the NAIS Challenge 20/20 opportunity at the Department of Environmental Quality-Earth Day 2008 Celebration at the Oklahoma City Zoo. Ankita stated, “Service Learning is a great way for Casady students to give back to their community. I believe that participating in service learning not only benefits our community but also broadens student’s outlook on life. Service Learning has given me so many opportunities to change my school, my community and finally my world. Projects like Challenge 20/20 help Casady students become connected to schools across the world and discuss local problems in a global setting. The Casady Cans Do project has raised awareness and collected funds to help eradicate hunger in Oklahoma. No matter what your passion is, you can find a service learning project that is right for you.”
During Ankita’s senior year, members of the Class of 2011 shifted the focus of the Challenge 20/20 project to awareness of the human print in global warming and climate change. Rebecca Roach’11 and Josh Ou’11 are the current Challenge 20/20 leaders at Casady School. In the past two years, they have read High Noon, have seen The Inconvenient Truth, contacted Sierra Club representatives and Casady faculty to raise awareness and help promote recycling in our school. Josh and Rebecca wrote and were awarded a Facing the Future grant to provide cameras to document climate change in OKC and Peru. Our international discussion collaborators in the area of Global Warming/Climate Change challenge were the school in Brussels, Mount Saint Mary School of Pennsylvania, and the Cloud Forest School in Costa Rica. These efforts were not very successful, yet Josh created a website and we learned how to have SKYPE teleconferences with Costa Rican students.
Rebecca and Josh focused on recyling and awareness and reduction of carbon footprint and water conservation. One of the adult sponsors of this project is also interested in awareness of ecological footprint and energy conservation. Thanks to an "informal partnership" with the Oklahoma Green Schools Pilot Program, Josh has obtained recycling bins to promote recycling of cans and plastic and he is in the process of developing a stronger collaboration with the Casady Environmental Club and the Casady administrative efforts in turning our school greener. Josh stated, When I first joined the Challenge 20/20 group my freshmen year, I was completely oblivious that I would become the president of this group my junior year. During the early stages, we would have only dreamt of having a cans and plastic recycling on a regular bases; we are also in the process of constructing two new LEED buildings on our campus.”
Our new partners in 2009-2010 were a school in China and a school in New York. The Casady group tried to communicate with the school in China with no response. We managed to communicate with the school in New York a couple of times. They were active in promoting awareness of carbon footprint in younger students and we were told that they created a manual for that purpose. We asked them to send the information to be shared with our MD and LD, but the exchanged did not happened. Internally, the NAIS Challenge 20/20 work continued its focus on Global Warming. Following the leadership of the school in New York, Casady's Challenge 20/20 became more proactive at mentoring the Middle Division Environmental Club. On Earth Day, we planted 10 trees in collaboration with the Middle Division. The Green Schools Committee helped us get the trees. They also linked us to an architectural firm that enhanced our understanding of LEED constructions, since our school was building the first LEED certified building on campus. The Challenge 20/20 team promoted the usage of alluminum water bottles to replace the plastic that is polluting our oceans due to our love for convenience. NAIS Challenge 20/20 leaders, as a result of being part of the pilot green school program unoficially, received recycling containers to increase our Environmental Club recycling program from paper only to plastic and cans. During Earth Day 2010, Challenge 20/20 brought alternative energy cars on campus. Upper, Middle, and Lower Division students were introduced to electric cars. Josh, the leader of Challenge 20/20 received an award in the form of funding to attend the Six Billion Paths to Peace Retreat in San Francisco based on his work from freshmen to junior year as a Challenge 20/20 YAC member and leader. http://web.mac.com/casadycrier/iWeb/Challenge%202020%20Website/Home/Home.html.
Josh continues to be part of the Environmental Club in 2010-2011. He has provided guidance to the new leader, freshman, Salman, from time to time.
In the area of hunger, Casady YAC continued its commitment to helping end childhoood hunger by the year 2015, millennium goal of the United Nations. We had a record year of can donations to the Casady Cans Do Food Drive in the month of November 2009 under the leadership of STUCO and YAC leaders like Aamina. NAIS Challenge 20/20 Global Warming leaders, Josh and Sarah facilitated the Walk the World 2010 around the State Capitol. Freshman Shiva, became a great supporter of this walk. It was a small walk which raised about $1,000 for the United Nations World Food Programme and the Regional Food Bank of Oklahoma Food-4-Kids Program and promoted ZUMBA as an alternative way to be active and have fun.
For 2010-2011...see first part of this reflection.
Thursday, February 24, 2011
Report from Oklahoma Green School trainers about MLK Day Green Schools Yes!
Mr. Les Pace and Mrs. Christina Stallings informally gave feedback of their experience at Casady School on MLK Day.
Mrs. Stallings was complementary of the research done by the high school and the middle school small green teams. As a result of their investigation and feedback, the Oklahoma Green Schools website will feature the following carbon footprint calculators:
EPA for Lower Elementary. Zero Foot Print for Upper Elementary or Middle School. Cool School Challenge for High School.
Schools will be ask, " What is your base line and goal?"
Mr. Pace stated that the ONE goal is EDUCATING! educating, EDUCATING!
Mrs. Stallings was complementary of the research done by the high school and the middle school small green teams. As a result of their investigation and feedback, the Oklahoma Green Schools website will feature the following carbon footprint calculators:
EPA for Lower Elementary. Zero Foot Print for Upper Elementary or Middle School. Cool School Challenge for High School.
Schools will be ask, " What is your base line and goal?"
Mr. Pace stated that the ONE goal is EDUCATING! educating, EDUCATING!
Thursday, February 10, 2011
News from Parterner school in Turkey
From: Seçil NAZLIER [mailto:snazlier@odtugvo.k12.tr]
Sent: Thursday, February 10, 2011 4:59 AM
To: Clay, Carmen
Subject: Challenge20/20
Hi Mrs. Clay;
It's been so long since we had our last contact. Salman has sent a SKYPE conferencing request on December 16th, but I was away from school because of health problems so our team was unable to organize their student club activities when I wasn't at school. Now we are having our winter break and we will be back at school on next Monday but I will be working for only two weeks and then take my maternity leave. I think I will be away from school till summer holiday so another teacher will be in charge of our team. His name is Sertac ERDEN (serden@odtugvo.k12.tr) but still I will be managing our club activities via email. Therefore, your primary contact will be Mr. Erden but you can always contact me whenever you need.
While I was away from school, our team members carry on their research on carbon footprint and they were brainstorming about finding ways to reduce our schools carbon dioxide emission. I have contacted some professional companies that provide counseling for schools and other facilities for carbon management, but our school won’t be able to support this kind of professional help financially. So I tried to find alternative ways that doesn’t need too much money. I wanted some help from Middle East Technical University Department of Environmental Engineering and arranged a meeting for the next term, with a professor who deals with projects about reducing carbon emission. Also I’m still trying to contact some people from United Nations who run developmental projects in our country. We are planning to organize a conference in our school to raise awareness about reducing carbon emission in our daily life, which will be held in next term by the contribution of expert speakers.
So, these are the news from METU High School. How things are going around there?
Maybe we can arrange a SKYPE meeting for the following two weeks.
Best regards….
Dear Mrs. Nazlier and Mr. Erden;
It is a pleasure to hear from you. Congratulations on your future baby!!!
Welcome to our team Mr. Erden. Please see what Salman and his emerging Challenge 20/20 Green Team YES(Youth Energy Service) did on MLK Day at http://casadynaischallenge2020.blogspot.com/ .
I have asked Salman to send you his personal reflection and what his plans are for the future. (He will be attending and maybe presenting this project briefly, as his path to peace, at the National Service-Learning Conference in Atlanta http://nslc.nylc.org/, where I am part of a presentation called, Actualizing the Six Billion Paths to Peace daily, in collaboration with two other schools, Blake School of Minneapolis and White Plains School of New York sponsored by the Shinnyo-en Foundation http://www.sef.org/.)
The teacher facilitating the Green Team YES at Casady is Mr. Mark Delgrosso, Biology teacher. We also have an emerging team at the Middle Division under the leadership of the daughter of our Chemistry teacher and Environmental Club sponsor, Julieta Zesiger. I have also asked Mrs. Zesiger to ask Cathy to send you all a reflection of what she has done so far and what her plans for the future are.
The Green School Committee members who are helping the Casady beginnings of a Green Team are Les Pace and Christina Stallings. Both of them have online resources to share with your team. The progress we have made has been more in connecting to people and resources to help Salman develop a course of action for the Spring term.
I am sending a copy of this e-mail to the mentioned people as an introduction of Salman’s NAIS partner school in Turkey. How about SKYPING next week? We just returned to school. We were out yesterday due to inclement weather.
Best regards,
Sent: Thursday, February 10, 2011 4:59 AM
To: Clay, Carmen
Subject: Challenge20/20
Hi Mrs. Clay;
It's been so long since we had our last contact. Salman has sent a SKYPE conferencing request on December 16th, but I was away from school because of health problems so our team was unable to organize their student club activities when I wasn't at school. Now we are having our winter break and we will be back at school on next Monday but I will be working for only two weeks and then take my maternity leave. I think I will be away from school till summer holiday so another teacher will be in charge of our team. His name is Sertac ERDEN (serden@odtugvo.k12.tr) but still I will be managing our club activities via email. Therefore, your primary contact will be Mr. Erden but you can always contact me whenever you need.
While I was away from school, our team members carry on their research on carbon footprint and they were brainstorming about finding ways to reduce our schools carbon dioxide emission. I have contacted some professional companies that provide counseling for schools and other facilities for carbon management, but our school won’t be able to support this kind of professional help financially. So I tried to find alternative ways that doesn’t need too much money. I wanted some help from Middle East Technical University Department of Environmental Engineering and arranged a meeting for the next term, with a professor who deals with projects about reducing carbon emission. Also I’m still trying to contact some people from United Nations who run developmental projects in our country. We are planning to organize a conference in our school to raise awareness about reducing carbon emission in our daily life, which will be held in next term by the contribution of expert speakers.
So, these are the news from METU High School. How things are going around there?
Maybe we can arrange a SKYPE meeting for the following two weeks.
Best regards….
Dear Mrs. Nazlier and Mr. Erden;
It is a pleasure to hear from you. Congratulations on your future baby!!!
Welcome to our team Mr. Erden. Please see what Salman and his emerging Challenge 20/20 Green Team YES(Youth Energy Service) did on MLK Day at http://casadynaischallenge2020.blogspot.com/ .
I have asked Salman to send you his personal reflection and what his plans are for the future. (He will be attending and maybe presenting this project briefly, as his path to peace, at the National Service-Learning Conference in Atlanta http://nslc.nylc.org/, where I am part of a presentation called, Actualizing the Six Billion Paths to Peace daily, in collaboration with two other schools, Blake School of Minneapolis and White Plains School of New York sponsored by the Shinnyo-en Foundation http://www.sef.org/.)
The teacher facilitating the Green Team YES at Casady is Mr. Mark Delgrosso, Biology teacher. We also have an emerging team at the Middle Division under the leadership of the daughter of our Chemistry teacher and Environmental Club sponsor, Julieta Zesiger. I have also asked Mrs. Zesiger to ask Cathy to send you all a reflection of what she has done so far and what her plans for the future are.
The Green School Committee members who are helping the Casady beginnings of a Green Team are Les Pace and Christina Stallings. Both of them have online resources to share with your team. The progress we have made has been more in connecting to people and resources to help Salman develop a course of action for the Spring term.
I am sending a copy of this e-mail to the mentioned people as an introduction of Salman’s NAIS partner school in Turkey. How about SKYPING next week? We just returned to school. We were out yesterday due to inclement weather.
Best regards,
Sunday, January 30, 2011
Green Schools Yes and Green Schools First Publication
GREEN TEAM YES, YEARLY REFLECTION
Read about Casady MLK Day Green Team Yes training at:
http://campaign.r20.constantcontact.com/render?llr=mll5d4dab&v=001-jHgZ8K8LRLqu2mAHQNGAr6glJIAbC8fEQQY_nMYnEBUOhGw6l_m3DBz27Ek42Y4wsKBakknQAFttAQ24qolTvpIVZOmWWMSHUDWdgKt9Os%3D
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| Free slideshow design generated with Smilebox |
Read about Casady MLK Day Green Team Yes training at:
http://campaign.r20.constantcontact.com/render?llr=mll5d4dab&v=001-jHgZ8K8LRLqu2mAHQNGAr6glJIAbC8fEQQY_nMYnEBUOhGw6l_m3DBz27Ek42Y4wsKBakknQAFttAQ24qolTvpIVZOmWWMSHUDWdgKt9Os%3D
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