Community Corner

How District 68, Meadowview and Willow Creek Are Going Green

The principals from Meadowview and Willow Creek share how their schools are being more environmentally-friendly.

From reducing interior night lighting to reading books promoting earth-friendly practices, the following are examples how District 68 has gone green. 

The district information was provided by Leslie Pollack and John Erickson. The Meadowview information was provided by Principal Jodi Innes and the Willow Creek information was provided by Principal MaryAnn Sanfilipp.

District-Wide

Lighting 

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The district has upgraded its interior lighting to reduce energy use by 25 percent. The amount of interior night lighting has been reduced by 50 percent. All outdoor light is programmed is to go off at midnight and weekends. 

Bathroom 

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The district has been changing its toilets from the 3.5-gallon flush toilets to 1.6-gallon flush. That project is 50 percent complete. The sinks have been changed, too. The district has replaced full-flow hand wash basin sinks with individual head basin sinks.

Garbage

District 68 classrooms used to have two trash cans; now they have one. This reduced the number of can liners used by half. The district also put recycling bins in all its classrooms and mega-size recycling bins in each school parking lot that the community is encouraged to use. 

Each school has a cardboard, aluminum can, and plastics recycle container. All electronic equipment are recycled properly.

Cleaning Supplies/ Equipment

The vacuums the district purchases have the CRI (carpet and rug institute) Green label. The paper products, glass cleaner, degreaser cleaner, floor cleaner, carpet cleaner and hand soap used are Green SealCertified.

The school strips and finishes tile floors on a three-to-four-year cycle, instead of annually. 

The district uses micro fiber dust mops so mops don't have to be treated with dust mop treatment. The district launders and use micro fiber rags and towels for cleaning as opposed to disposable wipes.

Hand driers have been installed in all student restrooms to get away from using paper towels.

Meadowview Elementary School  

Principal Jodi Innes said that the school incorporates care for the earth into its daily instruction, and has sold energy saving light bulbs in conjunction with Commonwealth Edison for families.

Some examples of earth-friendly practices:

  • Third-graders have moved from making landform projects and reports with clay, paper and other materials to presenting their findings digitally. 
  • Teachers collect and stack unused single sided papers for use in printing other single-sided items.  
  • The school now sends out an electronic newsletter. 
  • For Earth Day, the school's LRC director is helping preschoolers plant seeds, such as milkweed, in recycled cardboard egg cartons.  The seeds will grow and attract butterflies once transplanted to outside gardens.
  • Second grade is reading two important books, "Where Does the Garbage Go?" and "Oil Spill." Additionally, they are writing to their senators about passing legislation aimed at stopping oil spill disasters.
  • Older students are researching a problem or issue of importance to the world.  Many have selected earth care issues such as global warming and habitat destruction.  The students will research the different sides of the issue and report their findings as well as their own thoughts.
  • First grade will help plant a tree from the village on Arbor Day. 
  • Meadowview will celebrate Children’s Book Week at Meadowview by recycling gently used books. For every book a child brings in, he or she will get to choose a “new” book. 
Willow Creek Elementary School 

Willow Creek has had a week of events to celebrate National Earth Week. The school collected change from the students to go to its Reading Garden. The class who raised the most money will receive a prize. 

On Tuesday, students were encouraged to wear earth tones and think about how to protect the environment. On Wednesday, it was "No Waste Lunch/Snack." Students were encouraged to bring their lunches in reusable containers.

On Friday, the students were asked to wear something recycled.  

In addition, the school recycles cans and paper, has a community  recycle bin outside near our parking lot and asks teachers and staff to turn out lights when they are not in the classroom and to power down computers at night.


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