JC holds the status of a Green School, for now.
In 2007, JC received the honor of a Green School status, an award given to schools that make an effort to reduce their environmental footprint. The award is given by the Green School Initiative.
According to GreenSchools.net, the Green School Initiative strives to encourage schools to create a “framework that integrates efforts to reduce schools’ ecological footprints, make school environments healthier, and get the whole community thinking about solutions to the problems we face.”
To attain the status, schools must, according to greenschools.net, complete the four pillars to a Green School: “Strive to be toxics free, use resources sustainability, create a green healthy space, and teach, learn and engage.”
JC began working in 2007 toward the status by establishing a “no-mow zone,” cutting down on electric use, and introducing Abitibi paper recycling, a system that pays schools for their recycled paper. The “no-mow zones,” are areas set aside for native growth and are restricted from being mowed. To remind students and teachers to limit electricity use, signs were placed by light switches throughout the school.
“The wrestling team adopted a highway. We started a green team. We made sure the drain to the bay was clean. Mr. Hughes took several environmental trips, and we stressed recycling,” former biology teacher and green team moderator Heidi Weaver said.
“We’ve made more headway in electric conservation, the plantings are still there, however the no-mow zones are now cleared out,’” said Principal Paul Barker.
JC achieved its current Green School status with help from Weaver and former outreach director Sr. Maryanne Zakreski. Both have since left the JC community, and JC is “lacking someone to spearhead the project,” Barker said.
“Considering everything is done on the computer, we don’t really need to make more efforts to become more of a green school,” senior Faizan Multani said.
Weaver organized the project in 2007. “To be successful the project needs to be very student-driven. Any teacher can organize it, but the students have to run it,” said Weaver.
“We try to be green but we’re not really, for example, I just took a test that used like 20 pages of paper,” junior Emily Kegan said.
“We’ve had lots of people who are interested in the project, however, we need someone fairly committed to the project,” Barker said. “The expectation of whoever takes on the project, the expectation is the job will get done.”
Science teacher Susan Kraft showed interest in working on the project, but decided against it, according to Barker. Kraft declined to comment.
The National Honor Society is also making efforts to achieve the Green School status. “One of the things we’re trying to do is collect aluminum cans for recycling. It is also a fundraiser for us. We get 50 cents per can. We’ll save that money and use it towards service projects,” science teacher and NHS moderator Rebecca Jansing-Kaestner said.
“There is no question that we want to reinstate the program. It’s not a question of why but why not.” Barker said, “It is a value that is kind of consistent with good stewardship of the planet.”
Allison Walczyk can be reached for comment at [email protected]