Embedded Files
Pathways to Action
Pathways to Action
Looking for ideas to get started? Below are a few examples of solutionary actions that can be taken across the Campus, Curriculum, and Community Engagement. You can also click HERE to see more examples in the One Planet School Challenge Example Levels of Engagement.
Campus
Entry: Conduct a baseline audit of waste streams on campus.
Mid Level: Improve the schools waste stream through diverting, reducing, and reusing materials.
Full Integration: Create a comprehensive and integrative zero waste plan, with the goal of achieving a Zero-Waste facility. These plans address both upstream and downstream waste issues through purchasing policies, waste reduction programs, and increased diversion.
Curriculum
Entry: Provide students with supplemental lessons that examine the waste system.
Mid Level: Create lessons for students to examine the waste system from multiple lenses and identify economic, social, and environmental issues. Students then apply their learning by collecting data from their campuses, developing awareness campaigns and setting up action plans for their school.
Full Integration: Deliver a zero-waste curriculum to every student in the school. Ongoing education paired with campus events and facilities affords students a comprehensive understanding of the waste system.
Community Awareness & Action
Entry: Host a one-off school and/or community-wide event about the importance of waste and consumption with at least 10% participation.
Mid Level: Participate in a short-term awareness or action campaign focusing on waste diversion with 20-50% participation in the school community.
Full Integration: Implement an ongoing awareness or action campaign focusing on waste diversion with over 50% participation in the school community.
Exemplar community impact projects led by administrators
Exemplar community impact projects led by administrators
Not sure which pathway to action is right for you? Browse the Administrator-Led Solutionary Community Impact Project Exemplars to learn about successful and long-lasting environmental action.
SMC Schools Examples
SMC Schools Examples
Want to see what other school communities have done in San Mateo County?
Below are a few examples of Solutionary actions that have been recognized by the San Mateo County One Planet Schools Challenge, participated in the Youth Climate Ambassador Program, or the SMELC Fellowship Programs.
District-Wide Actions
District-Wide Actions
STUDENT AND TEACHER DRIVEN EFFORTS
South San Francisco Unified School District
Teacher Leader Case Study: Anthony (Tony) Tsujisaka - Teacher Leader focused on Zero Waste across the district
ADMINISTRATOR DRIVEN
Belmont Redwood Shores School District
Teacher Leader Case Study: Jenny O'Hara - Science TOSA focused on district-wide Zero Waste curriculum efforts
San Bruno Park District & Sites
One Planet Challenge Summary: San Bruno Park District implements tri-bin system
San Carlos School District
One Planet Challenge Summary: Arroyo, Brittan Acres, and Mariposa Elementary Schools - Tri-bin system installation and lunchtime waste sorting support
San Mateo Union High School District
District Tech Coordinator Case Study: Jessica Valera - Tech Coordinator focused on Waste Diversion
Site-Level Actions
Site-Level Actions
STUDENT DRIVEN EFFORTS
Youth Climate Ambassadors Case Studies
Youth Climate Ambassadors Case Studies
San Mateo Union High School District
Aragon High School
Valerie Fan & Hannah Hsiao - Waste Reduction in businesses
Louisa Varni & China Porter - Paper Waste Education
Hillsdale High School
Jacob Reed & Alexandra Iliopoulou - Access to and education on composting
San Mateo High School
Ellen Kim - Educational panels on climate change
Sequoia Union High School
Woodside High School
Sara Typrin & Maeve Merwin - Plastics awareness through social media, art contests and documentary screenings
Independent Schools
The Nueva School
Maya Avida - Social media awareness on fast fashion
Alyssa Liao - Art education on sustainability and recycling
Mercy High School
Samantha Noll - Redistribution of urgently needed supplies
Sustainable and Climate Resilient Schools Challenge Summaries
Sustainable and Climate Resilient Schools Challenge Summaries
Elementary Schools
John Muir Elementary School (San Bruno Park Elementary School)- Waste diversion training program
Woodside Elementary School - Mask Pollution Solutionary Community Impact Project
Secondary Schools
Aragon High School (SMUHSD)- Green Club Zero waste video and recycling competition
Burlingame Intermediate School (BSD)- Recycled Materials Collection and Recycled Art Competition
Carlmont High School (SUHSD)- Green Club and Custodian launch an organics collection program
Carlmont High School (SUHSD) - Journalism program environmental video series
Carlmont High School (SUHSD) - DIY Earthcycle Club promotes waste reduction with community action
Crystal Springs Uplands School 2019-20 & 2020-21 (Independent)- Green Club launches composting program and promotes zero waste through community events and collective action on event goodie bags.
Half Moon Bay High School (CUSD) - HMB High Environmental Club tri-bin sorting installation and school-wide zero waste education
Hillsdale High School (SMUHSD) - YCA Students lead zero waste social media campaign and coastal clean-up event
Design Tech High School (SMUHSD Charter) - Student-led tri-bin sorting and neural network for zero waste education and training
Millbrae Leos Club (Community Youth Group) - Successful outreach campaign "Bags to Benches" to collect hundreds of pounds of plastic to be diverted from landfills to make community-accessible benches.
South San Francisco High School (SSFUSD): YCA Students install on-site demonstration composting system.
EDUCATOR DRIVEN EFFORTS
General Zero Waste
General Zero Waste
Principal Case Study: Colleen Hennessy at Rollingwood Elementary - Principal focused on Zero Waste
Principal Case Study: Nuala O' Sullivan-Haley at Garden Village Elementary - Principal focused on Waste and Living Schoolyards
Waste Generation Examples
Waste Generation Examples
Belle Air Preschool - Using Recycled Materials for Art Projects
Portola Elementary Special Day Class - Using recycled materials for activities
Portola Elementary - Zero waste lunchtime efforts with reusable utensils
Tierra Linda Middle School (2019-20) & 2020-21 - Eliminate Plastic Water Bottles and beach cleanups
Serendipity School - Recycled Art, Trash Free Friday, Public Service Announcements, etc.
Waste Sorting Examples
Waste Sorting Examples
Manuel F. Cunha Intermediate - Onsite Composting Program
Mills High School - Environmental Awareness and waste data collection
Nesbit Elementary School - Research and Socratic Debate, as well as recycling program
Pescadero Elementary - Lunchtime waste sorting and on-site composting program
Carey School (Independent) - 5th grade class collects and recycles 522 pounds of plastic bag waste
Waste Hauling and Processing
Waste Hauling and Processing
Pescadero Elementary - Lunchtime waste sorting and on-site composting program
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