Green Up Edison

Green Team Minutes 8/16/10

2010-08-16T21:52:00.000-06:00

Joint meeting of Edison adult and student Green/Wellness Team, plus Edison Garden group.

Called by Jessica Romer from Denver Urban Gardens (DUG)

On Mon. 8/16, 8 a.m., at Café Caliente coffee shop.

Attendees: Jessica Romer, DUG; Elizabeth Vigil, Edison Teacher,; Jennifer Wolf, adult Green Team Wellness Coordinator; Michel Brossmer, PTA president; Betsey Daniels, Edison Garden volunteer and neighbor; Larry Volkening, Edison Garden leader and neighbor; Diane Graves, adult Green Team; Julie Buchanan, adult Green Team Leader; Melissa Knopper and Ben Jansen, student Green Team Leaders.

Goal: To plan DUG-related garden programs before school starts.

Discussion:

Elizabeth Vigil and Diane Graves suggested ways to incorporate the garden into the back to school Lawn Party. The group agreed to include a sign-up sheet at the Green Team table for new families that would like a garden plot. Larry Volkening suggested adding some literature from DUG, how to sign up for a plot, garden fees, etc. to the Green Team table. Larry also suggested raffling off baskets of fresh veggies to raise awareness of the garden.

The group discussed the pros and cons of having a farmer's market at Edison. This would be a DUG and Slow Foods program to promote healthy foods. It could be a fundraiser for the Green Team, also, Jessica said, but most schools only break even.

Group members said they did not have a leader for the market yet, and mentioned it would be quite time consuming. Michel Brossmer suggested adding it as an after-school enrichment program for next fall. The market group could meet on Thursdays, which is the DUG pick-up day for produce. Melissa suggested having just one market day this year, as a trial run, possibly around fall festival. But the group agreed to only do that if a motivated leader comes forward.

Jessica Romer suggested folding a student garden club into the student Green Team and making it part of their regular meetings to go out into the garden and help with weeds, etc. Ben Jansen and Melissa Knopper agreed that would be a good idea and said they would incorporate a garden club into their Tuesday meetings. Julie Buchanan said last year the Green Team students liked their role as "Garden Ambassadors."

The group discussed the need for a parent liaison to coordinate garden to classroom programs with teachers at Edison. The previous coordinator, Gretchen Wilson, is no longer available to fill this role. Julie said the kindergarten teachers loved doing a "Five Senses" garden tour with Gretchen last year and would like to do it again. Elizabeth Vigil, an Edison teacher, will help coordinate also. Michel Brossmer said this could be considered a special annual field trip for the kindergarteners.

Julie said they are looking for ways to build green regular activities into the school calendar to make the Green Team sustainable. "Then, it becomes almost like a tradition and it lives beyond us," she said.

Melissa mentioned Colorado Proud School Lunch Day is coming up on Sept. 8th. This is an annual event sponsored by DPS and Slow Food Denver. Edison participated last year too. Kids help pick garden produce, such as carrots, zucchini and tomatoes. Then they wash it and help make some pasta salad to serve in the cafeteria during lunchtime. Melissa said Jeff Oakley, an Edison parent, chef and owner of Bang! Restaurant on 32nd Ave., has agreed to do this cooking demo.

A parent coordinator is still not in place for CO Proud Lunch Day, however. Someone needs to communicate with the lunchroom staff, line up students, etc. Jessica estimated we will need a total of 5 or 6 parent/community volunteers to help with this project. Michel said she would include this in the PTA's list of urgent volunteer needs, and she will also try to get it on the school's master calendar of events. Melissa said she would also put a message on the garden group's e-mail list.

Jessica explained DPS also has a new program called Garden to Cafeteria, which involves taking kids into the garden to harvest produce, wash it and give it to the lunchroom staff for use in the salad bar. Jessica said the group can decide if they want to do this just one time or more, depending on what is available in the garden. Volunteers are also needed for this program. Larry and Betsey said they would help, but felt parents should coordinate it. Jessica said training takes place this week for this program, but she can catch us up later if volunteers are not in place yet.

The group discussed how the three-year Green Up Our Schools grant listed specific goals for the Green Team. This is the third year and this year's focus is supposed to be on greening up the cafeteria (already underway last year) and promoting healthy foods, Diane said. The group discussed a desire for composting in the cafeteria this year, and planned to check with Jennifer Draper Carson, who had been looking into that. Melissa said Green Team kids will help monitor the new re-usable silverware in the cafeteria during lunch, after their first meeting Sept. 7th.

In conclusion, the group agreed to participate in the following DUG garden programs:

CO Proud School Lunch Day on Sept. 8th
Garden to Cafeteria Program (one time this year)
Garden Club (as part of regular Green Team meetings)
Kindergarten Five Senses field trip

The group also chose a date for the 9News Health fair: Fri. Nov. 5th. Jennifer said there will be a planning day Sept. 22nd, where volunteers choose the different booths for the event. She is looking for a co- coordinator and several parent volunteers to help produce this large, day-long event. Student Green Team members will staff the booths and educate their classmates during the health fair.

Michel, here are our volunteer needs:

URGENT: Edison Garden teacher liaison: We need a parent or community garden volunteer to communicate with teachers and encourage them to bring their classrooms out to the garden. Denver Urban Gardens already has some ready-made garden curriculum guides available. We need to get them in the hands of teachers and use them. Sporadic need, maybe 2-5 hours per month or less. Would be during school hours.
URGENT: CO Proud School Lunch Day: We need 5 or 6 parents to supervise harvesting and cooking pasta salad before and during lunch. Time commitment: about four hours in the AM. One time event on Wed. Sept. 8th.
Garden to Cafeteria Program: We need a parent or community garden volunteer to communicate with lunch room staff, garden leaders and teachers to plan this special harvest day. Kids will pick produce, wash it and give it to the lunchroom staff for the salad bar. This will take about four hours in the AM during school. One time event.
Five Senses Tour: We need 4 or 5 parents to help supervise as the kindergarten classes take a special field trip into the garden. Time commitment: about two hours or less, during school hours. One time event.
9News Health Fair Co-Coordinator and 6-8 parent/community volunteers: The co-coordinator would help Jennifer Wolf plan and organize this large all-day event, set for Friday, Nov. 5. Coordinator would help pick booths on Sept. 22, attend training sessions and planning meetings, and be available on Nov. 5th during school hours to run the fair. Parent volunteers would help supervise during the day of the fair. One time event.

2010-05-20T20:04:00.005-06:00

The May 10th Chipotle Fundraiser raised $2,865 for the Edison Garden - this was a HUGE success. Originally, Chipotle informed us we could make between $500 to maybe $2,000 depending on how organized and active our community is - and we did $2,865!

THANK YOU EDISON COMMUNITY!!! Thanks to everyone who came out in support of this (and for waiting in long lines to get your burritos!). The next time you visit Chipotle at 32nd & Lowell, please also thank them for their generosity to the Edison Garden! Funds will be used to help pay for the raised beds and to finish the benches & arbor around the concrete circle - our garden has come a long way in a short amount of time - thank you thank you thank you all!

Also, please check out the great article from Melissa Knopper if you haven't seen it already about all the antics of our Student Green Team and the greening of the Edison lunchroom: http://www.northdenvertribune.com/2010/05/the-greening-of-edison-inside-and-out/

Edison Rocks!!

Edison Garden Chipotle Fundraiser - Mon May 10th

2010-04-28T10:01:00.006-06:00

Print this flyer and bring to Chipotle on Monday May 10th to raise funds for the Edison Garden! (click on image, and then print)

Edison Lunchroom Ribbon-Cutting!

2010-04-28T09:37:00.006-06:00

Edison Elementary’s Lunchroom became the Greenest in all of Denver Public Schools on Earth Day when reusable compartmentalized food trays and silverware made their debut. In addition, there was a ribbon cutting ceremony for the upcoming "Edison Energy Station" - the new Edison fruit & veggie bar which was named by Mrs Freeh's first grade class in a naming contest.

Check out some pictures of the celebration - including compartmentalized reusable trays, the rubber ducky bath where kids throw the silverware, students in action, and the Edison lunchroom staff, Ann Christy and members of the Green Team who collaborated to make this happen under the direction of Renee Withrow. Thanks to everyone who came out for the event and who came to have lunch with their kids - including DPS Director of Sustainability, Jim Faes and Green Up Our Schools Patty Breech!

The Student Green Team Earth Day Parade!

2010-04-28T07:44:00.005-06:00

Check out the Student Green Team marching in honor of Earth Day! Thanks to all who came out to participate, and thanks to the fearless Student Green Team leaders - Mr Floyd Baltz and Diane Graves!

2009-12-11T17:26:00.002-07:00

The Edison Student Green Team participated in this year's Trash to Trees program (www.trashtotrees.com). Please visit the Inverness Hotel this weekend to VOTE so Edison can win for our "trashy creativity"!!!

Picture to the left are some of the students with our truly unique tree that includes egg cartons, bottle caps, CDs, comic strip paper, juice pouches and more.

AND, you can also bid to OWN this tree! The highest bidder (individual or company) gets to take this tree home or to the office! Please visit and vote, and if inspired, bid too! All money raised from our tree will go to the Edison Green Team. Thanks!

2009-11-26T09:18:00.002-07:00

Edison activities in the Tribune:

http://www.northdenvertribune.com/2009/11/edison-elementary-keeps-students-engaged-with-multiple-activities/

Thanks again Melissa!

Edison 9Health Fair led by the Student Green Team

2009-11-14T09:50:00.006-07:00

The Edison Student Green Team did a fantastic job running the booths
for the Edison 9Health Fair last week. Their leadership,
teamwork, and enthusiasm was impressive. Also impressive was the
sheer number of parent volunteers who showed up to guide the class
groups from booth to booth! Thanks to everyone, including:

*The Student Green Team
*Our sponsors, 9Health Fair and Two Medicine Health
*All of our parent classroom volunteers & health fair volunteers
*Exhibitors: Colorado National Guard, Denver Museum of Nature and
Science, Colorado Safe Kids
*Edison students and teachers who participated, cooperated, and asked
great questions!
*Dr. Christy and the administrative staff for supporting this event
*Chrons and Colitis Foundation for donating pedometers and cinch sacks

The above photos show the Student Green Team running several booths (including the popular "Pig Lung" exhibit!).

Wonderful thank you card from Kindergarteners

2009-11-14T08:55:00.003-07:00

The Kindergarteners created an amazing large Thank You card for the Green Team after the successful Kindergarten in the Garden day (where the kids used all their senses exploring the garden). Thanks to everyone - and isn't the card the best? (held by kindergartener Nina Graves and her mom Diane)

Edison Pear Planting Helpers

2009-11-14T08:50:00.002-07:00

THANK YOU to everyone who helped out - including those who spontaneously joined in the fun on the gorgeous Friday afternoon! The five flowering pears were not only planted but also named! Along Perry you will find Penelope, Keisha, Wifi, Edgar and Shelly. Special thanks to the energy of some enthusiastic 4th and 5th graders including Louis, Devon, CJ, Dylan, Riley, Oliver (who knew this kids were so good at hard labor? Parents, take note!) Also thanks to the naming committees and side-walk chalk tree appreciation artwork: Stella, Sadie, Zooey, Cassidy, Melody, Rose, Margot, and Vincent our special watering guy. The pear trees are near the bus stop, and need special care the first year, so please help them thrive by not climbing on them and spreading the word. As they grow, they will resemble the columnar pears along the path near the ECE playground - upright habit, flowering, and no fruit (currently in red-orange splendour). Special thank to the Park People and Ace Hardware who generously donated the trees.

National Guard Lands Helicopter at Edison!

2009-10-15T07:32:00.006-06:00

Here are a few pictures of the National Guard's visit to Edison. They landed a Helicopter to promote Edison's upcoming 9Health Fair (Nov 6th). While at Edison, they did a short drug-free presentation including three pageant "princesses" leading anti-drug cheers and Edson the Eagle mascot from the Colorado Rapids.

Edison Garden Dedication Ceremony

2009-09-05T18:28:00.003-06:00

Edison enters Nike Back Your Block

2009-08-22T15:00:00.003-06:00

The Edison Green Team is proud to lead the way to try and proactively locate funding for a DPS inter-school kickball tournament for 5th graders from Edison Elementary, Brown Elementary, Valdez Elementary, Colfax Elementary, and Columbian Elementary.

But to win a $5,000 grant from Nike - we need your vote! Please visit:

http://www.nikebackyourblock.com/ApplicantProfile.aspx?ApplicantId=02aeb89c-6484-45fa-8c96-acf6fa69ccb2

And vote for this great multi-school wellness event.
Thanks!

Edison Community Garden - please don't harvest!

2009-08-22T14:52:00.004-06:00

The Edison Community Garden is thriving! Please be respectful of our community gardeners' plots and do not harvest their veggies. We have 21 plots where neighbors, parents, community-members have paid to have a spot to garden, and the veggies/harvest belongs to them. If you are interested in having a plot next year, please email edison.community.garden.mailbox@gmail.com

We also have 5 Edison plots that six classes planted last year during Field Day, and we're working on ways to have the Student Green Team and other student groups use these plots in the classroom. If you have ideas, please contact Julie Buchanan, julierbuchanan@gmail.com.

Thanks!

Earth Day, Save the Earth, Go Green!

2009-05-03T23:15:00.002-06:00

Photos from the Green Team march on Earth Day.

More Mugs will be Available in Late December

2008-12-04T23:14:00.005-07:00

Another batch of the Edison green coffee mugs will be available around December 23, depending on shipping. These are the same mugs that the teachers received earlier this school year.

The mugs would make a great gift around the holidays! You can order mugs in combination with totes by clicking one of the links below and using your credit card or Pay Pal account.the school. The mugs were a big hit, and were designed with the Edison logo on one side, and the Green Up Our Schools logo on the other.

Edison stainless steel mug - $15

Edison tote bag - $5

Edison stainless steel mug AND Edison tote bag - $18

Green coffee mugs and green shopping for Edison

2008-10-21T23:58:00.016-06:00

We’ve been busy promoting the Green Up Our Schools campaign at Edison and have gotten some great response. Some exciting news is that Edison was just approved as a recipient of sales on the Greenraising website. Greenraising was created to help raise money for schools and give children an opportunity to learn that their actions can change the world through environmental awareness. You can purchase “green” products on the site and some of these include:

School supplies such as lunch boxes, backpacks, notebooks, and Sigg bottles
Gifts such as candles and fair trade soccer balls
Home and office products such as cleaning supplies, soaps and lotions, and office supplies
And much more!

The best part is that 20% of all purchases made on their website will be donated to Edison. In addition, Edison will receive 40% of proceeds on any purchases made from October 24th through November 7th! Proceeds will be used for future green initiatives and green ‘gotchas’ for the kids. Go to www.greenraising.com and help raise funds for Edison while helping the environment.

Another great initiative:
This fall, reusable coffee mugs were given to all teachers, staff, and interns in the school. The mugs were a big hit, and were designed with the Edison logo on one side, and the Green Up Our Schools logo on the other.

We’ve decided to make the mugs available to Edison families and will combine sales of the mugs with our green totes. The Edison Elementary Tote is perfect for shopping trips, trips to the library and replacing plastic shopping bags - while displaying your school spirit. The mugs are available for $15 each, and the totes are available for $5 each. Purchase the Edison Green Combo, 1 mug + 1 tote for $18! You can purchase them online using the links below(limited supply) with your credit card or Pay Pal account. Arrangements will be made with you to pickup your order at school.

Make your orders by clicking the buttons below. You will then be able to pay by credit card, or login to your Pay Pal account to pay. Orders will taken until November 20. You will be contacted to pickup your order when it arrives in late-November.

Edison stainless steel mug - $15

Edison tote bag - $5

Edison stainless steel mug AND Edison tote bag - $18

For more info, please contact Troy Kilen or Nicole Bauman. Thanks for your continued support!<

Green Up Our School

2008-10-12T22:25:00.004-06:00

Edison received a grant from Green Up Our Schools, and was profiled on their website, which includes photos, grant details, the waste assessment, and more.

Green Up Our Schools Grant Awarded to Edison!

2008-07-01T20:55:00.000-06:00

This spring, a committee was formed to "green" Edison, and the first objective was to raise funding. Renee was able to quickly pull together a grant application to Green Up Our Schools, an organization that provides funding for waste reduction and recycling plans in elementary schools. The grant was awarded to Edison, and work began over the summer to implement the plan.

The first step was a waste assessment, where 388 pounds of waste was collected for the day, 75% of which can be recycled. Bins to recycle classroom materials were then added to each classroom, a key aspect of reducing the level waste. Next, a school assembly kicked off the program, introducing it to the students. Some of the funding from the grant was then used to purchase reusable coffee mugs for all teachers, staff, and interns in the school. The mugs were a big hit, and were designed with the Edison logo on one side, and the Green Up Our Schools logo on the other. School events, like the lawn party, will now be setup to be more environmentally friendly.