OUR SCHOOLS

Rancho Elementary School

Rancho was the first Novato elementary school to launch a Zero Waste Program with SMS in 2022! This year, it has expanded its sustainability efforts. With the incredible support of Rancho’s principal, teachers, and custodians, students have taken the lead as compost monitors, helping classmates to properly compost and recycle their waste. Their hard work was even recognized during a school board meeting. The results continue to make a positive climate action impact – more than 14,000 lbs of food waste has already been diverted from the landfill during the first semester!

SMS also introduced environmental education opportunities, leading weekly lessons with 5th graders and eco-focused learning activities during Health & Safety and STEM nights. In addition, this year SMS worked with dedicated teachers to officially create a Rancho Green Team which meets regularly to learn about climate action within their own school and at home. Furthermore, a group of motivated teachers worked with SMS to design and fund a new outdoor learning area for students.

SMS also supports Safe Routes to Schools on campus to encourage ‘green trips’ to school to lower the carbon footprint of drop-off and pickup. Finally, kitchen staff at Rancho have decreased the amount of packaging included with their lunches and are rolling out milk dispensers in January. Because students can take the amount of milk they need, dispensers will cut milk waste significantly.

Rancho continues to be an incredible example of how, with the right support schools, can embrace sustainability, save money, provide valuable learning experiences for our students, and keep the planet healthy. In addition, Rancho is compliant with new state laws that require composting at schools. Go Eagles!

The Results of Rancho's Zero Waste Program 2022-23

A Special Shout Out to Monica Valaquez Lopez!

Monica, the Day Custodian at Rancho Elementary School, leads sustainability efforts at the school. Before working with Sustainable Marin Schools, she was already had milk buckets for the students to pour out their extra milk, was recycling cardboard and cans from the kitchen, and stacking recyclables so she could fit more in the recycling bins.

She's been integral to the success of Sustainable Marin School's Zero Waste Program by providing guidance for setting up waste stations. She advised on where to locate the stations, helped to train students, and monitored compost bins, among many other things. Sustainable Marin Schools warmly thanks her for her creative solutions, hard work, and dedication. We couldn't have done it without you!

Novato High School

Novato High is home to several active environmental student groups. In response to strong student interest, SMS helped Novato High’s Sustainable Youth Leadership Club with needed infrastructure for a classroom recycling program in 2023. This year, SMS expanded the Zero Waste Program to include school lunch waste reduction and sorting efforts. Classroom presentations provided refreshers for students and teachers. New containers, waste sorting stations, composting and food share bins featuring new informational recycling and composting signage were rolled out on campus in late Fall 2023.

Novato High students have really stepped up! As a result, more than 1,000 lbs of compostable food waste has already been diverted from the landfill. We will continue to expand the Zero Waste Program, improve engagement with students and teachers, support Novato High’s school garden, and provide students with climate action opportunities that have a real impact on lowering their school’s greenhouse gas emissions. Go Hornets!

Lu Sutton Elementary

Even before joining SMS’ Zero Waste Program, Lu Sutton was doing an excellent job with recycling and composting, in large part due to their dedicated Day Custodian, fantastic kitchen staff, and engaged Principal and Teachers. With just a little support from SMS, Lu Sutton quickly made impressive strides in reducing mealtime waste and sorting recycling.

SMS kicked off the school year with educational presentations on trash, recycling and compost in all classrooms. They’ve recruited Green Team members and other student leaders to help with lunch waste sorting. As a result, nearly 6,700 lbs of food waste was diverted from landfill to Marin’s composting facilities, while more than 490 lbs of edible food was recovered through the addition of the food share bin. Beyond food waste recovery and composting, the introduction of bulk milk dispensers has reduced milk waste by nearly 90%. Lu Sutton has also eliminated single use ketchup packets by switching to condiment dispensers.

In addition, SMS has started environmental literacy lessons for Green Team members once a week and supports Safe Routes to Schools’s mapping efforts for green trips.  Go Cheetahs!

Loma Verde Elementary

SMS is thrilled to work with Loma Verde this year to launch their sustainability programs. Loma Verde Principal, Day Custodian, and students have been essential to their Zero Waste Program’s success. After classroom presentations where students learned to sort their waste and why it’s important for our planet, nearly 40 Loma Verde Bears stepped up to take climate action by joining the Green Team. During lunch, they monitor waste-sorting stations and are reducing food waste with the new share bin sending more than 230 lbs of food back to the community. Nearly 11,600 lbs of food waste was diverted from the landfill to Marin’s composting facilities, thereby reducing carbon emissions and providing organic soils for farmers and gardeners.
In addition, SMS, parents, and teachers are planning for campus greening and outdoor classrooms. Furthermore, SMS is supporting Safe Routes to Schools in their creation of a map of walking and biking routes. This map encourages ‘green trips' to school and helps to lower the carbon footprint of drop-off and pickup. Go Bears!

Pleasant Valley Elementary

Pleasant Valley kicked off its SMS' Zero Waste Program with classroom presentations on recycling and composting at the beginning of the school year. Mealtime waste stations were set up throughout campus to engage TK-5th graders in sorting and proper disposal. A milk dispenser was introduced to reduce milk waste. By encouraging mindful habits, students have enthusiastically contributed to recovering more than 300 lbs of food and diverting 11,450 lbs of compostable food waste from the landfill during the first quarter of the school year.

In addition, SMS has worked to establish a Green Team led by 5th graders, is working with teachers to create a food garden, and supports Safe Routes to Schools in encouraging ‘green trips’ to school to lower carbon emissions during drop-off and pickup. Pleasant Valley's dedicated students, teachers and principal have already made great progress towards lowering its environmental impact. Go Eagles!