 On Friday, you went to an assembly about our new Grades of Green program. Today’s Advisory is all about that.  Look for the El Segundo Middle School mission statement. Once you’ve found it (hint: ESMS website), share it with a partner  Think about the following question, then raise your hand to share with your class. Teachers will call on three students: How does reducing, reusing and recycling go along with the ESMS mission?

 Now, look at the IB Learner Profile. With two partners, share the two attributes you think most fit with caring for our environment. Agree upon two, then share out as a class.  Remember, this is your school, this is our planet, and we are the ones who must care for it.

 Because you can win totally swag prizes, right?  And because Bulldogs are the best and we want to win the Trash Free Challenge

 The ESMS Green Team is formed by both parents and students and it’s not too late to join! Sign up in the office if you’d like to help work the sorting stations: ◦ Adult Parent Team (Mrs. Miles, Mrs. Lubs, Mrs. Georgious, and Mrs. Fallon) ◦ Student Green Team  We have 15 students and are looking for more to help care for our planet!

 As you may have seen on Friday, we have 3 main Sorting Stations (in the Quad, by the cafeteria, and by the vending machines)  Each station has the following options: ◦ Recycling (blue) ◦ Tray Recycling (gray with blue and labeled) ◦ Compost bucket (orange) ◦ Regular Trash “Landfill” (silver or gray)

 We have multiple small stations with recycling and regular trash options all over campus. Lunch trays go in the blue at these stations.

 We use the big blue recycling cans for our recycling.  This goes into these cans: ◦ EMPTY MILK CARTON ◦ EMPTY WATER BOTTLE ◦ EMPTY CANS ◦ YOGURT CONTAINER ◦ SPORKs ◦ STRAWS ◦ ITEMS WITH RECYCLE SYMBOL ON THE BOTTOM ◦ (CLEAN PAPER TRAY BUT BETTER IS THE TRAY CAN AT THE MAIN SORTING STATION)  Best is to drink all your drinks, but if you have to empty anything then empty your water by a tree/bush and any other liquid into the silver/gray regular “Landfill” trash can.

 There is a gray Tray Recycling can at each main sorting station.  We have too many trays, so we need an extra can for these.  Please: 1. Empty your tray by sorting the trash into the other cans at the sorting station. 2. Make sure that there are NO FOOD SCRAPS left (use the spatula if needed). 3. Fold the tray and place it into the Tray Recycling can. Thank you!

 We have small orange buckets for our Compost.  Please toss your: ◦ Veggies ◦ Fruits Think: What comes from the ground, will go back to the ground.

 We have the silver metal or gray plastic trash cans to collect our regular trash-“Landfill”.  Regular trash is everything that did not go into any other can.  Be aware that these items go into the regular trash: ◦ WRAPPERS ◦ ZIPLOC BAGS ◦ FLIMSY WRAPPERS ◦ PLASTIC BAGGIES ◦ CHIP BAGS ◦ FOOD OFF TRAYS ◦ JUICE BOXES ◦ POUCHES.

Sorting trash is fantastic, but this is really about producing less trash! …and you can help by packing a trash free lunch!

It is lunch that does not generate trash. Think about how much trash we toss!

USEDon’t use Reusable water bottlesDisposable plastic bottles or juice boxes ContainersZiploc bags (You can’t recycle them!) Buy big bulk (pretzels, chips, etc) and put in containers Individual wrapped packages Cloth napkinPaper napkin Silverware (real forks and spoons)Plastic forks and spoons Bring a trash free lunch boxPaper bag or plastic bags

 We have student volunteers that care about our environment and that are helping to improve our trash situation at ESMS.  You can be part of this team!  Please talk to Dr. Plotkin if you are interested of being part of the Green Team.  Next Student Green Team meeting will be Tuesday 12/16.

 On random days, you may receive raffle tickets to win all kinds of prizes like the shag skateboard, gift certificates, shirts, water bottles, and other cool stuff! We will have special events coming up: ◦ Raffles ◦ Special trash free days ◦ Earth week ◦ And more

 Students, go to the website below. Open the PDF, and then add it to your home screen. The PDF shows how to pack a trash free lunch. 

 If you brought a lunch today, talk with a friend about the items you have. Give yourself a score from 1-10, 1 being the most wasteful and 10 being the most “green.” If you’re not at a 10, talk about how you can get there.  If you are buying a lunch today, score the school’s lunch for how much waste it can produce. Then, talk about what you can do to make the situation better.

Thank YOU for making YOUR FUTURE GREEN!