Thanks to all who joined our January 23 community meeting!

Make sure to Save the Date for our last Community Meeting this school year on April 16.

Schools are Gardening in Evanston (SAGE) seedling orders are now open!

SAGE has a new email address if you have questions. SchoolsAreGardeninginEvanston@gmail.com

Check out our 2024 Earth Month plans.

Explore opportunities to get involved at your school: climate action project ideas. Encourage reaching out to your School Leaders to explore ways you can partner and engage at your school.

We've been grateful for the support but are moving on to other efforts this year. If there is anyone who has the energy to take this on, I'm happy to orient them in order to help facilitate.

If interested, reach out to me at mcabiya2@hotmail.com.

D65 is underway with a district wide project to improve recycling in all our buildings, Learn More (school recycling intro).

Key Highlights to Share:

• Received SWANCC Grant to pilot using 2 tandem dollys at JEH to help custodians collect recycling & landfill at the same time.
• Completed recycling container and signage inventories in all our D65 buildings. Identified needs for recycling bins and signage across the district.
• In progress monitoring how full our recycling and landfill dumpsters are at our schools. Exploring current capacities and potential opportunities to adjust service levels as we strive to boost recycling and compost efforts.
• Recruiting D65 Staff to join a team to create guidelines and best practices for landfill, recycling and compost in our buildings.

D65 is in the process of creating best practices for watering at our school gardens and grounds (new trees and native plants). Our intention for this guidance is to balance watering with being good stewards of water usage and costs to the district.

Draft D65 Best Practices: Watering at School Gardens and Grounds

SWANCC is extending the $500 Waste Grant application deadline for schools to February 1st!

SWANCC knows it has been a busy first semester and they want to help us raise the bar on the new year! The application is quick and easy, if you have a project in mind, let SWANCC know about it. If it qualifies, they would be thrilled to help you fund it! Please submit applications by February 1st.

Need some inspiration? D65 has previously used this grant money to fund lunchroom waste stations, dishwasher in a staff lounge, tandem dolly for trash and recycling and more.

We need your help to grow a digital garden of sustainability and school garden ideas for District 65. Your ideas will us develop future focus areas & initiatives for climate action in our schools.

When: Wednesday February 14 from 10-11am CST

If you're interested in connecting about your school's sustainability practices, please set up a time to meet with me. Sign Up Here

Karen Bireta

D65 Sustainability Coordinator

Pronouns: she, her, hers

biretak@district65.net

Office Phone: 847-859-8156

• Do you have sustainability and/or school garden news to share from your school?
• Is there an upcoming community event you'd like to share?
• Found a cool resource to share with the community?

Email Karen Bireta, biretak@district65.net to include in an upcoming sustainability newsletter.

Join our Google Groups and help us grow our community! All are welcome to stay in touch and receive periodic updates on D65 climate action and school garden happenings.

• D65 Sustainability Focus: 23-24 School Year
  
• D65 Guidance for Climate Action and Gardens at Schools: 23-24 School Year
  
• D65 Sustainability and Garden Resources Library
• D65 Sustainability Positive Impact: 22-23 School Year
• D65 Climate Action & Garden Community Contact List
• D65 Sustainability Website