Solutions to Pollution

Using tools to examine the problem...

March 2012: 

With the onset of spring and spring breaks, volunteers have been supporting Solutions to Pollution by helping ReNEW students with campus cleanup campaigns and litter abatement. Pictured to the left is 5th grader Dedrick Biagas thanking volunteers from Wonder Voyage for all of their hard work over 4 days at the SciTech, RAHS #2, and Batiste campuses. Above, high school students at RAHS #2 collect litter outside of the perimeter fence as a solution to the problem.

February 2012:

Students are preparing for state testing, and it will be interesting to see how Solutions to Pollution has impacted their' science learning. Recent/ongoing activities include campus litter abatement campaigns and daily recycling. Local and out-of-state volunteers have been helping with litter collection and beautification at all five ReNEW campuses. The above photo shows the newly cleaned and renovated PK-2 playground at SciTech Academy. Improvements included breakdown of broken and discarded items, removal of old plywood with nails, pick up and disposal of trash, and fresh paint and plants to make the space more inviting for our youngest scholars.

January 2012:

Students have been working independently and in groups to master content and GLEs covered in Solutions to Pollution. Teachers are planning field trips to a working landfill so students can observe, make impressions, and evaluate the impact of human consumption on the environment and society, both in the short term and over many years. Recycling activities are continuing across the ReNEW Schools network.

December 2011 Post:

State Farm's YAB grant has allowed our high school science program to be enhanced with a variety of learning materials that support service learning and mastery of  biology and environmental science Grade Level Expections (GLEs). The program has provided backpack labs, which arrived a week ago, and will allow students to work in teams to test the soil and water quality of the campus grounds and immediate neighborhood. Data will be used to enhance the walkabout needs assessment, which allowed students to visually inspect their surroundings and record data including litter qualtity, type, and location. Bi-weekly recycling is ongoing after small kinks with the pick up schedule. "Lagniappe" to our project is the new relationships we have formed with local State Farm folks. We are working to create ongoing volunteer opportunities for these wonderful folks to assist our students in their daily academics.

October, 2011 Post:

ReNEW Charter Schools were honored by a visit to their October Board Meeting by several State Farm employees who presented a large novelty check to ReNEW to support the Solutions to Pollution project. Thanks State Farm!

In September, a cadre of high school students from both the City Park and West Bank campuses visited the Brown Foundation's annual service learning fair. There they met with community partners, viewed other service ideas and projects, and assisted fair organizers with a Reuse Tree. Students have taken a service learning pretest and  distributed indoor recycling bins to all ReNEW campuses. Phoenix Recycling comes to each ReNEW campus bi-weekly to pick up recycling materials, and student service learning hours are being logged as they complete in-class and after school service-related activities.