Go Green Initiative Meeting Minutes for June 16^th,  2006

In attendance:
Syracuse GGI Coordinator Jennifer Spoor: bluewillowrox@hotmail.com

Cara Kirkby, Roberts School 4th Grade Teacher/GGI Advisor:
clkirk@twcny.rr.com

Joanne O'Shea: Roberts School Principal/faculty representative:
joshea87@scsd.us

G-enerate Compost: currently the 4th grade classes are vermecomposting at
Roberts. They use the worm castings generated by their vermecompost to
fertilize the cucumbers they plant every spring. Compost is generated in the
classroom of each 4th grade teacher. Once monthly, students at Roberts
School are visited by the food band of Central New York. The Food Bank of
Central New York promote a vegetarian diet by teaching students to prepare
vegetarian meals. The waste from these meals is always composted.
With the help of the Go Green Initiative program, and the grant offered by
NYSAR3, Roberts school hopes to expand the composting program during the
2006-2007 school year.

R-educe, Reuse and Recycle: Cara Kirkby's 4th grade class collects paper
recyclables from the classrooms every thursday. Walter Mac, the recycling
representative of the custodial department, helps with the recycling by
advising all the teachers to put their blue bins out for collection, when it
is time to recycle. Students do not accept trash, and place any
non-recyclable items back into the blue bin for proper disposal. Roberts
School currently collects ink cartridges and recycles them for a profit.
As part of Robert's adoption of the GGI program, they hope to expand
recycling beyond paper, to include plastic, metal and glass during the
2006-2007 school year.

E-ducate: In past years students have given presentations to educate other
students on what is, and isn't recyclable. Cara plans to organize a group of
motivated students to "student teach" during the next school year. The
school specific radio/television station, WJTR (John T. Roberts) plans to
broadcast a "recycling rap" to the student body. The rap was written and
performed by Roberts Students, to motivate others to recycle properly.

E-valuate the environmental impact of your activities: It is estimated that
Robert's school recycles 600lbs of paper on a weekly basis. During the next
school year, 4th grade students will weigh paper recyclables every thursday,
and record the results. The Future Green Team plans to brainstorm ways to
make Roberts school even more environmentally friendly.

N-ationalize your principles of responsible paper consumption:
Stay tuned!

Keep up the Good work!!