LAWRENCE: Ben Franklin School’s green efforts earn Silver Award

By Lea Kahn, Staff Writer
   The Ben Franklin Elementary School’s focus on sustainability has paid off, because it has earned “Silver Award” status from the National Wildlife Federation’s “Eco-Schools USA” program — the only school in the state to have earned the award.
   School principal Christopher Turnbull said he learned of the program through Sustainable Jersey. Sustainable Jersey encourages municipalities to adopt environmentally sustainable practices.
   Mr. Turnbull was one of a six-member delegation that visited Taiwan last year on a trip sponsored by Sustainable Jersey. He was so impressed with the sustainable practices he encountered on the trip that he pondered how he could translate those ideas into action at the pre-K to grade 3 school.
   That proved to be the Eco-Schools USA program.
   The appeal of the program is that it provides a framework to move forward in encouraging sustainable practices, Mr. Turnbull said. It also encourages a team effort between the students, teachers and staff, he said, adding “everyone has a stake in it.”
   The program offers nine “pathways to sustainability” that focus on water, energy, climate change, transportation, school grounds, healthy living and healthy schools. A school can be certified as an Eco-School, of which there are 26 in New Jersey.
   But to move on to the next step — to obtain Silver Award status — it is necessary to fulfill seven steps, beginning with an environmental audit of the school.
   The other steps include creating an eco-action committee, an action plan, monitoring and evaluating progress in implementing the action plan and linking it to the curriculum. The school also must develop an eco-code that demonstrates the school’s commitment to improving its environmental performance.
   At the Ben Franklin School, the action plan focused on water, recycling and energy. Each grade level had its responsibility. The pre-K and kindergarten students learned about the importance of re-using materials and reducing waste.
   The 1st-graders tackled water conservation and 2nd-graders took on waste and recycling.
   For example, students recycled milk cartons from lunch. They washed out the containers and crushed them before putting them in a yellow bucket for recycling. The students counted the number of containers they recycled.
   The 3rd-graders are interested in energy, making light switch labels and developing campaigns to limit the electricity and energy consumption at the school. Students also check the water meter at the end of the month to monitor its consumption.
   ”We get real data. We graph the results in math class. It helps engage the students to learn more. It helps them learn how to gather data and measure things. All the students participate. We want to provide a really great experience for them,” Mr. Turnbull said.
   The students developed an eco-code, which led to the school’s “Take Care Pledge” — to save energy by turning off the lights, computers and other electronics when they are not in use; recycling paper, cans and bottles; not polluting the water and being careful with its use; and promising to reuse and not waste.
   Mr. Turnbull said the school has received feedback from the students’ parents, who are implementing some of the strategies at home, such as turning off the lights when they leave the room.