Sustainable Practices
Energy conservation
Switch Plate Covers
73 second grade students designed switch plate covers in February 2014. These are hung throughout the school in classrooms, hallways, offices, bathrooms, etc. One student wrote about the project:
"We did a switch plate so we can tell people/teachers/students to
turn off the lights when you’re not using them. We did it to help save
electricity and not cause air pollution. It is important so that we don’t cause
pollution around the world and to tell people not to litter."
"We did a switch plate so we can tell people/teachers/students to
turn off the lights when you’re not using them. We did it to help save
electricity and not cause air pollution. It is important so that we don’t cause
pollution around the world and to tell people not to litter."
Energy Reduction Checklists
Before the Winter and Spring breaks, we completed the Energy Reduction Checklists. Students were responsible for turning off lights and power to classroom electronics.
Before the Winter and Spring breaks, we completed the Energy Reduction Checklists. Students were responsible for turning off lights and power to classroom electronics.
Waste Reduction
Recycling Club
Ms. Watts' 4th grade class participates in the Wellwood Recycling Club each day. One student, Vraeden, describes his job below:
"This is what I need to do to get the recycling job at school. You need to be a person who will not act funny in the hallway. You also can't be run up and down the hallway because you're teacher will not let you do it again. What the recycling center needs is all the recycling stuff from each classroom. So we collect it for them because they can make old stuff into new stuff. Also we don't need them cut down any more trees to make paper so we remind people to recycle it!" |
Digital Concert Programs
This year, the music teachers at Wellwood are taking a new approach to concert programs. Instead of using all paper programs, they are posting QR codes (see picture above) around the auditorium and lobby. These codes can be scanned with QR code scanners, which can be downloaded for free as apps on smartphones and tablets. When scanned, these codes allow concert-goers to download a digital copy of the program to their mobile devices, which saves much of the paper used in printing paper programs. The QR code programs were a success at the fifth graders’ winter concert on January 20th, and the website used to create the QR codes showed that 32 different devices scanned the code a total of 45 times. QR code programs will also be used for upcoming concerts, such as the Variety Show on March 24th and the Spring Concert in early June. With increased audience participation in this paper-reducing initiative, Wellwood will continue in its role as an environmentally-friendly school!
French Recycling Song
Students preform a song about what can and cannot be recycled in order to remember how to recycle appropriately. They worked on the song during their French class, and now sing it whenever they need a reminder!
Recyclable Cafeteria Trays
This year, Wellwood is piloting new recyclable, cardboard lunch trays for Baltimore County Public Schools. In the days approaching the arrival of the trays, students researched the benefits of having trays made from cardboard. 4th grade students composed morning announcements each morning to educate other students on the new trays and how to recycle them properly.
Water Conservation/Pollution Prevention
Water Conservation Posters
On May 6, 2014, 82 Kindergarteners made posters. One student described the project as:
"We made posters to save the earth. We do not want there to be no water. We get hot and need to drink a lot of water. We get dirty and need to wash our hands before we eat. We like flowers and fish, too. When we get dirty we want water to be in the sink so we can be clean people."
On May 6, 2014, 82 Kindergarteners made posters. One student described the project as:
"We made posters to save the earth. We do not want there to be no water. We get hot and need to drink a lot of water. We get dirty and need to wash our hands before we eat. We like flowers and fish, too. When we get dirty we want water to be in the sink so we can be clean people."
Earth Day Clean-Up
In honor of Earth Day, 69 third grade students participated in schoolyard cleanup activities in order to prevent pollution in the Chesapeake Bay Watershed. They used recording sheets to take note of the type of litter they were cleaning up. Then, they wrote friendly letters to the "litter monster," a character in a text they read, in order to advise him on how to help the Earth and Bay become clean and healthy.
Blue Water Baltimore Water Audit
In April, Blue Water Baltimore will be preforming a water audit at Wellwood International. After the completion of the water audit, Blue Water Baltimore will provide Wellwood with student-centered activities to address any areas of concerns. The 4th grade students at Wellwood will then take initiative to lead school wide changes and educate others on our areas of weakness and provide suggestions for improvements.
In April, Blue Water Baltimore will be preforming a water audit at Wellwood International. After the completion of the water audit, Blue Water Baltimore will provide Wellwood with student-centered activities to address any areas of concerns. The 4th grade students at Wellwood will then take initiative to lead school wide changes and educate others on our areas of weakness and provide suggestions for improvements.
Healthy School Environment
Health Fair 2014
On April 29, 2014, students, parents, and staff members attended a health fair at Wellwood.
On April 29, 2014, students, parents, and staff members attended a health fair at Wellwood.
Field Day 2014
On May 22, 2014, 214 intermediate students participated in field day. They spent the morning outside engaging in various activities.
On May 22, 2014, 214 intermediate students participated in field day. They spent the morning outside engaging in various activities.
Keeping Our Community Healthy
Our staff takes the time to make sure all of our students make healthy choices. They all understand that they each play in a role in creating a healthy environment. They enjoy learning and practicing ways to keep themselves and others healthy. For example, students encourage one another to wash their hands for an appropriate length of time, sneeze into their elbow, and stay physically fit.
Our staff takes the time to make sure all of our students make healthy choices. They all understand that they each play in a role in creating a healthy environment. They enjoy learning and practicing ways to keep themselves and others healthy. For example, students encourage one another to wash their hands for an appropriate length of time, sneeze into their elbow, and stay physically fit.
Marathon Kids
Marathon Kids is a program where students log time they spend running outdoors in or out of school. Students try to run a full marathon (26 miles) by May! Not only does this program get kids moving, but it encourages them to enjoy activities outdoors and in their neighborhoods.