Only 12 schools in the state of Washington have achieved platinum status for conserving resources and implementing environment-friendly practices. Now, Felida Elementary is one of them!
Platinum status, the highest level of certification through the nonprofit Washington Green Schools, indicates exemplary work in six categories. Led by Felida teachers Meagan Graves and Kate Healey, the school’s Green Team completed the following projects:
- Water: Students in Meagan Graves’ class perform water quality monitoring at Salmon Creek and collect macro-invertebrates, using their methods and results to teach others. Fifth-grade classes also help plant willow trees that will help fight invasive reed canary grass.
- Energy: Students replaced lightbulbs in teachers’ lamps with LEDs.
- School grounds: Students planted native plants in planter boxes, removing plants that require watering during the summer.
- Transportation: The Green Team hosted Bike to School Day on May 8.
- Waste and recycling: Students shared videos about how to recycle and process food waste. They also organized a marker recycling program and held a contest among classrooms to encourage proper recycling habits.
- Healthy school buildings: Students made posters and videos to teach their peers to cover their mouths, wash hands and stay home if feeling sick. The team also implemented a healthy eating campaign called Veggie Strong.
On June 14, the Green Team was honored by Clark County Green Schools for their work. “Felida Elementary continues to amaze us with their passionate Green Team students, leaders and projects,” said Green Schools Environmental Outreach Specialist Michelle Picinich. “They are setting an example not only for other schools in their district, but all across Clark County and the whole state of Washington.”
Felida is joined in reaching platinum status this year by three more Vancouver schools: Gaiser Middle School and Marshall and Ogden elementary schools.
In addition, Thomas Jefferson Middle School re-certified in five categories and Anderson Elementary re-certified in the energy category.