Sustainability at PPS

The PPS Sustainability and Climate Justice teams have drafted their new year's resolutions! From Energy and Consumption, to Environment and Justice, we're sharing some of our favorite ideas for resolutions that have a positive impact across our community. Check out the image below to see if any of your resolutions match up to ours, and if you send us a photo of your resolution in-action we'll feature it on our social media.

And if your resolution is to get more involved with climate action, scroll through this month's newsletter for a list of amazing engagement opportunities we have for students, teachers, parents, and community members!

From Elsa Warner and Petal Peloquin, 11th graders at Grant High School and the school's Green Club leaders:

This year the 28th annual Conference of Parties met in the United Arab Emirates. COP28, the largest climate summit in the world, convened from November 30th to December 12th. Similar to years prior, Political leaders from over 197 nations, 2,456 fossil fuel lobbyists, and more than 70,000 delegates, got together to discuss mitigation and adaptation initiatives to combat the effects of climate change. Past conferences have led to notable agreements like the Paris Agreement, as well as the Green Climate Fund. This year’s summit was focused on four main goals: An overall goal to transition to clean energy; To change policies and regulations to put people and our earth over profits; and continue to push for accessible financial aid for developing countries combating the climate crisis. The final goal of the conference was to include a diversity of attendees. Whether or not these goals were met is up for debate.

https://ibwheadlight.com/3410/news/the-effects-of-this-winters-el-nino/

Photo credit: Sydney Collins

There are SO MANY WAYS to get involved right now, whether you are a student, teacher, staff, or community member. Check out some of our options below. And if you have any questions, email us at sustainability@pps.net.

The PPS Climate Justice team is teaming up with the PPS Innovation Studio to hear from our students about how we can create and support meaningful and accessible pathways for students to engage in climate action and leadership in their schools and lives. You can learn more about this opportunity here!

The project kicks off with a free Innovation Summit on January 29, open to all community members and students, where you can learn tools to pursue ambitious, system-wide, and transformative ideas. Register here.

And we are still looking for high school students and all grade level teachers to serve on the project design team for the next 6 months. This role is a paid opportunity and requires about 2-3 hours per work through June. If you're interested, please fill out this form or email us at sustainability@pps.net.

Want to know if your school has a Sustainability Champion? Look for a poster like this one, in the hallway or the main office.

The School Sustainability Champion Network is open to PPS teachers, administration, and other staff members. We hope to have members from all schools in the district. Here is the signup form or email Ari Ettinger at aettinger@pps.net.

Do you want your school to be healthier, greener and more resilient but aren't sure how to use your limited time and energy most strategically?

Teachers, do you want to help your parent volunteers get more training, support, and funding to help your school?

Eco-School Network is offering FREE leadership training for parents/caregivers, school staff, and teachers starting on February 12.The powerful 4-session online training will help you identify and address a sustainability need at your school that aligns with your own passion. Projects can include school gardens, outdoor classrooms, walk and bike programs, waste reduction, student green teams, climate action clubs and much more.

Schedule a free 15-minute call with Sasha to explore whether this a good fit for you. Learn more here. Training will take place on Zoom on Monday nights at 7pm (2/12, 2/26, 3/4, 3/11). For questions, email Sasha@ecoschoolnetwork.org.

Outside of the classroom, the Climate Justice Youth Advisory (CJYA) is one of the ways PPS students can work closely with the Climate Justice Department on providing input in setting climate goals for the district. CJYA members help plan the PPS Spring Climate Summit and can help build leadership pathways for students across the district.

If you’re a PPS student (middle school or high school) interested in sharing your voice for climate justice, fill out this interest form! And if you have any questions, please email climatejustice@pps.net.

Lastly, if you just want to follow along with all the work PPS is going to become more climate friendly, check out the PPS Climate Crisis Response Committee (CCRC). The CCRC advises PPS on implementation of the Climate Crisis Response Policy and all their meetings are open to the public. , Reach out to PPS Climate Justice Advisor Kat Davis (kadavis@pps.net) to learn more.

Metro's Waste Prevention and Environmental Services department is offering internship opportunities for high school juniors who are passionate and have an interest in sustainability and environmental justice. Gain knowledge and skills in education, communication, planning, and research and operations! Apply for this paid position by January 22nd, and check out this link for more information: https://www.governmentjobs.com/careers/oregonmetro/jobs/4321771/waste-prevention-and-environmental-services-intern

These updates result in an estimated $123,929 in annual savings as well as an emissions reduction totalling approximately 940 metric tons of CO2e! This amount of CO2 is equivalent to 2,409,736 miles driven by an average gas powered vehicle. Additionally, an incentive provided by the Energy Trust of Oregon will give around $184,000 back to PPS. Those are some exciting numbers and we can’t wait to see what we can accomplish in 2024!

Of the 3 taste tests, brussels sprouts received the greatest enthusiasm, with multiple students heading to the lunch line to get a full serving after giving them a try! Still, all 3 items had students who were surprised they liked the sample item, and others who were grateful for the opportunity to try something new even if they didn’t like it in the end. Cal is excited to continue doing taste tests like these for new upcoming recipes as part of a broader Nutrition Services initiative to garner student opinions about current menu items and menu changes.

The application for this incredible grant is fast approaching on January 21st. Check out this link for more information: https://www.multco.us/multnomah-youth-commission

Participants can learn about designing public spaces, the power of place, and health equity for under-resourced communities. This 9-week cohort engages young adults in the impact of climate change on the Black and Brown community and how they can design justice through a socially conscious lens. Participating Black, Brown, Indigenous, and Asian youth ages 14-20 will be compensated for their time, all while learning the basic tools of the Architectural, Engineering, Construction, and Design (AECD) industry. Deadline to apply is fast approaching on January 22nd! Check out this link for more information: https://www.elsoincpdx.org/ydp-main

The first and easiest way to dispose of the tree is through your local city compost. If you have a compost bin available to you, break down your tree into smaller pieces so that it fits in the bin, and the city will dispose of it for you. You can also chop the tree up and use the logs as a base for garden beds.

Additionally, many non-profits collect Christmas trees as a way to gather donations. These trees are typically taken to processing plants and turned into wood chips or mulch. Topaz Farm on Sauvie Island is also collecting trees to turn into biochar to improve water and nutrient retention in the soil

Check out this link for more info and how to register for this event: https://www.jcwc.org/events/dr-martin-luther-king-jr-day-habitat-enhancement-and-fundraiser/