Overlake’s Green Team initiated a campus-wide energy audit in 2009 with the goal of providing a road map for short-term and long-term energy-wise maintenance of Overlake facilities. The audit, conducted by MacDonald Miller and paid for with Green Funds concluded with the presentation of audit results and recommendations for energy-saving facilities improvement measures. Recommendations were heartily endorsed by the administration and incorporated into the short-term and long-term facilities plans. The first recommendation, implemented in December and paid for by the Green Fund, was a retrofit of Field House lighting with an estimated 50% reduction in kilowatt hours for the facility. In addition, Overlake qualifies for a PSE rebate for a significant portion of the $22,000 retrofit, making this an energy-wise AND cost-effective decision! PSE rebate dollars will be rolled back into the Green Fund for future facilities improvement measures. Energy savings will be tracked through monthly monitoring of PSE billing data. Many thanks to Builder’s Rep Liz Leroy, parent Lynda Kent, Overlake’s Green Team and maintenance staff for assistance with implementation of this retrofit.

The Brighter Planet blog has posted “Top 12 Conservation Tips” for the winter holidays.  Check out these “green” ideas at:
http://blog.brighterplanet.com/2008/12/03/top-12-conservation-tips-for-the-holidays/

The Green Team is pleased to announce two Green Grant awards in support of innovative “green” ideas proposed by Overlake faculty, staff and students. Proposals were submitted during the October grant award cycle.

Green Grants awarded:

• Kill-A-Watt meters:  to measure electricity consumption and impacts of conservation practices in classrooms and homes, 10th grade and 11th grade environmental science students will use Kill-A-Watt meters to collect live data, measure cumulative use of electricity over a period of time, quantify impacts and report outcomes. Proposal submitted by Gerald Blycker.

• National Wildlife Federation Schoolyard Habitat Certification: to certify The Overlake School campus as a Schoolyard Habitat site, MS Environmental Club will conduct certification application process and inform community through signage and published articles. Proposal submitted by Gretchen Davis and Chris Berry on behalf of the MS Environmental Club.

Congratulations to the grant award recipients!
The Green Team

5th and 6th graders served the community in October while learning about healthy wetlands and habitat through environmentally-focus service on MS Service Day.

6th graders worked at the Cedar River Watershed, partnering with Seattle Public Utilities and Friends of Cedar River for restoration projects. They planted over 220 native plants and removed invasive species to improve our watershed.

5th graders learned about campus wetlands and OWLS trail system through tours and trail maintenance with OWLS Project Manager Melody Gulledge and Outdoor Education Coordinator Kent Renno. 5th graders also planted 600 daffodil bulbs for a campus beautification project that the Overlake community will enjoy when the bulbs bloom in spring.

Thanks to the 5th and 6th grade students and faculty advisors for improving our community through environmental service.

King County Green Schools named Overlake School a Level One  Green School for achievements during the 08-09 school year.  Accomplishments include: 

• Establishing and awarding Green Grants for innovative green ideas
• Funding start up of “Hootieslist.org” for book swaps
• Bike-To-School Day
• Continued success of campus-wide composting and recycling program
• Completion of extensive energy audit of all existing facilities
• Monthly monitoring of energy consumption through bill tracking

The success of Overlake’s Green Initiative is dependent on daily choices made by students, faculty, staff and parents.  Thanks to the entire community for continuing to Go Green!

On Friday, May 15, Overlake held it’s first Bike to School Day.  Funded through a Green Grant, over a dozen students, faculty and staff were led by Transportation Director William Gerdes.  Several adult and student ride leaders trained with the Urban Cycling Institute several weeks earlier in preparation for Bike to School Day.  Cyclists wore commemorative t-shirts designed by webmaster Megan Sykes, who also bicycled to work that day. Other Overlakers—employees and students—chose to ride their bicycles on their own. Overlake Head Frank Grijalva took part, too. William’s grant was one of the first the Green Team awarded, using funds raised during the 2007 auction Fund-An-Item.

6th and 7th grade students from the “Healthy People, HealthyPlanet” Project Week encouraged Overlake faculty, staff and students to conserve energy through a series of announcements, Puget Sound Energy conservation stickers and CFL lightbulbs.  The Green Team provided CFL bulbs for every faculty and staff member while the students created signage and conservation ideas for each homeroom advisor to share with advisees.

During Project Week, the students explored healthy choices through field visits to the Cascade Recycling Center, Cedar River Watershed, 21 Acres Gardens, Foster Island wetlands and PCC.  To continue their work on behalf of the Go Green Initiative, the students formed a Middle School Environmental Club called “Going, Going, Green” with a mission “to make Overlake ‘green,’ to educate about being ‘green’ and to reduce impact on the environment.”

The Green Team is pleased to announce two Green Grant awards in support of innovative ideas initiated by members of the Overlake community.  Proposals were submitted by faculty and staff during the February grant award cycle.  

Green Grants awarded:

 ·         Overlake online textbook swap site – funds awarded to establish an online textbook swap site.  Implementation and maintenance of this online site will be facilitated by PFSA leadership.  Proposal submitted by faculty member Sue Haviland to be implemented by PFSA leaders. 

 ·         National Bike to Work/School Day Program – funds awarded for Urban Cycling training for student, faculty and staff ride leaders, t-shirts and supplies for a Bike-To-School Day to coincide with National Bike-To-Work Day.  Proposal submitted by transportation director William Gerdes to be implemented by various faculty, staff and student leaders.

Congratulations to the grant award recipients!

Note to all faculty, staff and students:  Got a great “Green Grant” idea?  Submit an online proposal to the Green Team by April 16 for the next grant review cycle:  http://www.theoverlakeschool.org/Forms/GreenGrant.html

C Jaap’s Middle School Art, 7th and 8th grade Experimental Design classes created sculptural works from four months of recycled New York Times newspapers, recycled cardboard, foam and wire from the Humanities Building project and recycled foam box frames.  The Middle School students tackled the assigment with enthusiasm and creativity.  Located in the North Gallery of Fulton Performing Arts Center — and soon to be hanging from the Campus Center ceiling, the sculptures will remain on display until early Spring.