Westchester Elementary School 2017-18 Green Schools Quest

March 11, 2018

In 2016-17 we implemented an addition of housing chickens at our school. Our 2017-18 GSQ project is to extend our outdoor spaces prior initiatives (which include renovation of the WE Woods and vegetable gardens) to complete a full circle approach to sustainability. We will utilize rain barrels to water plants/vegetable plants near the chicken coop, we will utilize vegetables from the gardens and from cafeteria scraps to supplement food for the chickens. We will recycle used pallets to build compost bins to keep near the WE Woods, and the compostable fruits and vegetables from the cafeteria will be added to the compost bins along with waste from the chicken coop (includes pine shavings, old straw, and chicken waste). The compost will be utilized to fertilize the native plants we continue to plant/add to our renovated woods area. We will also add a Monarch weigh station to our WE Woods area.

Grade levels will each have one garden bed to maintain, as well as each classroom will rotate weeks caring for and maintaining the chicken coop- including collecting eggs for distribution to families. Families have opted to receive eggs in exchange for a monetary donation which will be put towards purchases of chicken feed.

Other additions expected to be included in the WE Woods will enhance the outdoor learning capabilities of the renovated areas. These elements include an ampitheater with student seating, a nature scape area, a team building element called the Whale Watch, the Monarch weigh station (previously mentioned),

Intended impact of project

Reduced environmental impact
Increased environmental & sustainability literacy