Sustainability Success Story

The movement towards sustainability continues to be a larger concern in our world as the years progress.  Recently, I had an experience that turned out to be easier instead of more difficult related to sustainability.

Our school is focusing on sustainability where possible throughout all facets including the student's day, materials that had historically been printed for the parents and the staff and administration needs.  When we first started at the school I remember noticing the little basket in the adult bathroom for paper towels.  There was a note that said, "deposit used paper towels here for the guinea pigs." 

This year, we're trying to go further than prior years by reducing consumable usage and encouraging families to bring their own plates, cups and utensils for school events.  We don't expect to have one hundred percent success in the first year, but we're hoping to see good progress in comparison to last year.

 Last weekend, we hosted the staff and board retreat at our house.  Shortly before, the head of school emailed me and asked if we had enough plates, utensils and cups so that we could avoid plastic and paper waste.  I checked and yes, it would be tight but we had enough to serve lunch and breakfast to thirty six with the exception of coffee cups.

I was glad we had the items, but I was not looking forward to the washing of all those dishes.  What happened though was the opposite.  By the end of the day everyone had chipped in, one load of dishes was already finished and there was almost no trash to speak of from the event.  Instead of it being harder, it was just as easy and we all felt better about the day as a result.

The Big Boy Update:  My son likes to let you know when he wants to talk to you.  He's in that stage where he doesn't understand it's not polite to interrupt anyone and everyone when they're talking.  He frequently says, "hey, listen to me," or "daddy, hey listen to me."

The Tiny Girl Chronicles:  Last night she was walking around with me in a house under construction.  She looked into a back room in the unfinished basement and said, "I see dark."