Wayland Union Schools is going green with a number of earth friendly initiatives.

One of the ways they are reducing their carbon footprint is additional recycling efforts to reduce the number of waste/trash pickups. Besides recycling paper, the district is now adding cardboard, plastic and aluminum to the list. Paper is dropped off to the Paper Gators where schools receive money.

Dorr Elementary School last year added a square foot garden and composter for students to learn about reducing organic waste by composting and using it to fertilize a garden. The district’s maintenance team will be adding similar items to Steeby Elementary’s grounds this spring. Students will have a garden to table experience prior to the end of the school year.

Danielle LaJoye’s classroom added a Tower Garden where students are studying different types of hydroponic gardens and what benefits they offer to the concepts of urban farming. Students learned about Greek roots with the word “hydro” and experimented with hydrophilic (likes water) polymers. They sprouted seeds using a contained seed system and looked at how plants grow towards light (phototropism). Once the sprouts were big enough, students transplanted them into the vertical garden.  All of the plants they selected to grow (Gourmet Lettuce, Kale, Lemon Balm, Chamomile, Garlic Chives, Sweet Basil) will be able to eat before the end of the school year.

Schools have added “Green Teams” led by students. They are finding additional ways in their buildings to be “green.”

Additionally, Wayland Union Schools’ electronic flyer system, Peachjar, has saved 4,509,818 sheets of paper and 541 trees.