Welcome back to school!
We at the Green Schools Initiative hope you have had a great, relaxing summer. We've been busy collecting tips for you to make it easier to transform the health and sustainability of your school. We hope you will join us and take action this school year! Read on for how to get started... Please contact us at info@greenschools.net with your ideas and feedback. And go to our Donate Now page to support our efforts. Thank you!

Best regards,
Deborah Moore
Executive Director

Green Schools Initiative: Make Your Back to School GREEN

Berkeley, CA (September 6, 2006) - Back to School time! Green Schools Initiative can help you make Back to School green to ensure that your child’s school is healthy, safe, and sustainable. Learn how to buy recycled- and environmentally-friendly school supplies, pack a waste-free lunch, check out the health and safety of your school facilities, inquire about your school’s Wellness Policy, and more… Our children spend a large part of their days inside a school, so it is critical that the school environment not expose our children to toxic chemicals, have good indoor air quality, serve healthy food, allow for recess and physical education, and generally promote health and well-being.  You can be part of the solution – take action this school year!

Read the full story for Green Back to School Tips

7 Steps to a Green School: Invite the Green Schools Initiative to help your school get started

The Green Schools Initiative can help train parents, teachers, staff, and administrators at your school about how to:

• develop a long-term vision for environmental health and ecological sustainability at your school;
• create effective processes to engage the entire school community in greening efforts;
  establish institutional structures to ensure progress, and
• integrate curricula to engage students in greening efforts.

Take home tools include: 7-step approach to getting started; 4 key pillars of a “green school,” sample school board resolution; list of support resources and organizations; and examples of “green” schools and curricula.

Check out our Take Action page or contact us at info@greenschools.net. Join our mailing list!

California passes AB607 creating grant program for school repairs 

In 2004, the State of California settled a lawsuit that had charged the state with violating students' rights to adequate school facilities, sufficient instructional materials and books, and qualified teachers.  As a result of this Williams Settlement, the State will ultimately set aside $800 million for grants under the Emergency Repair Program to correct problems that threaten the health and safety of students at eligible K-12 public schools. AB607 establishes the grant program and creates the standards for "good repair" that schools must meet.

Find out if your school is eligible and what you can do about it, if you are in California and believe that your school facilities do not meet a standard of good repair: http://www.greenschools.net/news/BacktoSchoolTips.htm

Green Schools Initiative Awarded a "Golden Frog for Environmental Excellence" by E-Cards and GreenLeap

San Francisco, CA (May 1, 2006) - The Green Schools Initiative is the proud recipient of a 2006 Golden Frog award from the E-Cards and GreenLeap business. Every Earth Day, E-Cards and GreenLeap like to award environmental organizations with a portion of their revenues, as part of their efforts to "do well, by doing good." 

As noted by CEO Robb Waterman in the award letter accompanying the 2006 "Froggie" and $1,000 donation, "we have been very impressed with Green Schools' mission and initial work in 'greening' our schools.  Your four pillared approach to improving school environments and environmental education presents a clear and compelling vision for our children."

Deborah Moore, Executive Director of the Green Schools Initiative, said "we are thrilled with the recognition and will use the funds to support the development of our teacher training materials."  "I am honored to be in the company of other Golden Frog winners that I hold in such high regard, like Center for New American Dream, Environmental Defense, Natural Resources Defense Council, and Grist magazine," noted Moore.

Thank you E-Cards and GreenLeap!  Send an E-Card today and help save valuable paper and forest resources!

Read the full story about the Golden Frog Awards

Tips for a Green Back-to-School

A Green Back to School: Tips for ensuring your school is healthy and sustainable, September 6, 2006 - Full Story

1. Check the health and sustainability of your school - Use checklists and other tools to determine whether your school is free of mold, free of toxic chemicals, has good indoor air quality, has a recycling program, and more.

2. If you are in California, check that your school is in "good repair" - Your school may be eligible for state funds to improve the health and safety of its facilities.

3. Buy Environmentally-friendly School Supplies - Check out buying guides and learn where to get recycled notebooks, pencils made from sustainably-harvested wood, non-PVC plastic containers and more.

4. Pack a healthy, waste-free lunch - Find out ways of reducing your kids' waste and waist.

5. Check that your school has a Wellness Policy as required by law - A new law requires that schools promote nutritious meals and adequate physical activities.

6. Start a Green Schools Program at your school - Use resources from the Green Schools Initiative, the National PTA, and other groups to help you get started.