Diversion Programs
- 500 lbs of thin plastic diverted through the Trex program
- Waste diverted through the TerraCycle program, including:
- 14 lbs of juice pouches
- 25 lbs of GoGo Squeeze pouches
- 3 boxes of chip bags
- Over 75 lbs of crayons and markers
- ~15 lbs of Brita filters, toothbrushes, Burt’s Bees items, and more
- Countless amounts of paper and cardboard recycled through our general and Paper Gator recycling programs
- $500 award received for increased Paper Gator contributions — used to support TerraCycle
- Partnered with Organicycle to divert Earth Day waste
- Installed a 3-bin compost system on campus
- Supported GRPS district-level movement toward a pilot composting program
- Performed a Cafeteria Waste Audit to benchmark lunchroom waste with student and volunteer engagement
- Hosted a Plastic-Free Lunch Day with GRPS and the PTA to reduce single-use plastic and raise awareness about single use plastics
- Reminder: TerraCycle collection will wrap up this Friday
Campus Improvements
- Outdoor classroom upgrades funded through Green Team efforts:
- Picnic tables, native beds, nature journals, and more
- 30 yards of mulch spread on Dig It Day and 24 additional yards prepped for the outdoor classroom space
- 56 new native plants and many transplants added to native beds & Wildlife Corridor
- 22 new native plants added to the bioswale
- 32 milkweed plants donated by Monarch Watch for the kindergarten butterfly garden
- New mini herb garden near the pick-up line (Thank you, Erin Ignatoski!)
- Collaboration with 5th-grade teachers to plan additional native bed improvements
Sharing Garden & Greenhouse
- Over 600 plants sown in the greenhouse: veggies, flowers, herbs, and greens
- Hydro Table Resurgence:
- 60+ plants using drip irrigation and ebb & flow systems
- Media types: rockwool, coco, and soilless media supported by hydroton
- 4 Greenhouse Student Activities – totaling ~21 classroom hours
- Expanded classroom access through new supplies and teacher support:
- 60 new trays, 30 domes, 720 6-cell packs, 3 grow towers
- ~300 students participated in the Mother’s Day project
- Veggiemon Cards & Yoga Nights boosted Garden Club engagement
Community Engagement
- 28 volunteers supported greenhouse activities
- 50 adult and 60 student volunteers participated in Earth Day events
Fundraising Highlights
- Garza Potting Shed Plant Sale – Raised $2,200+
- 196 native perennials
- 531 veggie plants
- 933 marigolds
- 126 seed packets
- 125 gallons of potting mix
- Earth Day Hike-a-Thon – Raised $8,576
- Over $4,000 contributed to help 60+ students offset camp costs
(Administered by PTA, supported by past Green Team fundraising)
Tech Upgrades
- Developed a temperature sensor for remote greenhouse monitoring
- Launched a new Green Team webpage with updates and program info
- Created a Hike-a-Thon leaderboard and class ice cream party which helped spread the word and increase donations
- Improved the order system for Garza Potting Shed plant sale
Earth Day Survey Recap
- Feedback survey summary from staff and volunteers
- Open call for feedback – we’d love to hear your thoughts via email!
Summer Dates – Garden Club
All dates subject to change based on weather and tasks
- Tuesdays @ 6:00 PM – April through November
- Thursdays @ 10:00 AM – June 26 through August 14
- Sundays in the Garden – 2:00–4:00 PM
- June 8, June 22, July 13
- Back to School Garden Gathering – August 3, 2:00–4:00 PM
We’d love your feedback!
If you have thoughts, ideas, or suggestions for the Green Team, please send us an email at [email protected]. Your input helps us grow and improve each year!