King County Executive Dow Constantine will recognize an Issaquah school, teachers, students and staff as Earth Heroes on April 14.
“Winners of the Earth Heroes at School awards are a diverse group who share the common goal of making our world a better place,” Constantine said. “It is an honor to recognize their achievements in environmental education, waste reduction, energy conservation and other positive efforts.”
The event will be at 4:30 p.m. at the Community Center at Mercer View, 8236 SE 24th St., Mercer Island.
Those from Issaquah to be honored are:
Grand Ridge Elementary School: With a recycling rate in 2010 of 35 percent, Grand Ridge Elementary improved recycling in classrooms and offices, and started a food scrap recycling program. The school’s Media Club created a video to demonstrate proper recycling and composting, and the school promotes recycling at all school events. These efforts have increased the recycling rate to 62 percent.
Olga Haider and Michelle Pickard, Issaquah Middle School teachers: The leadership of these two teachers has resulted in a successful and sustainable resource conservation program at Issaquah Middle School. Pickard’s efforts in coordinating recycling and waste reduction actions to achieve level one Green School status set the framework for Haider’s efforts to achieve level two status through water conservation and installing an organic garden.
Kate Brunette, student, Issaquah High School: Concerned about her school’s recycling rate, Kate gathered support from the City of Issaquah, King County Green Schools Program, students, custodial staff, teachers and administration to implement strategies to increase recycling, including adding food waste collection to the program. Kate has been the driving force behind other environmental projects.
David Holbrook, staff, Creekside Elementary School: Holbrookstarted the recycling program on the first day of school at the newly constructed Creekside Elementary. In the first month that the school was open, the recycling rate was 55 percent. He supports all conservation efforts in the new school and maintains its sustainable features with environmentally friendly cleaning products.
