2.1 Water conservation/pollution prevention

water use reduction

SMDS moved into a new building shared with St. Margaret's Church in 2015. All faucets and toilets are low-flow fixtures. Students have been educated on the benefits of timed faucets and enthusiastically adjust their behaviors to match our water saving goals.

1. rain garden

Part of the 2014-2015 St. Margaret's expansion included the conversion of a side lot into a rain garden. Additionally, next to the new building where new parking spots were added, a water treatment and bio-retention pond were added to collect and minimize the effects of runoff. Native plants were added to the rain garden and grasses were planted in the pond to filter the water and to build habitat areas for wildlife near the school grounds.

Each year, Environmental Specialist Gail Morton teaches our kindergarten students how water runoff is effectively captured and how the plants can benefit from this process, while reducing or eliminating the need to use additional water. They were also able to see a demonstration of erosion control in action. 

2. Rain barrels

 SMDS students helped paint the two rain barrels in the front of our building to join the many others in use around the St. Margaret's grounds. The students will use the water to help grow our gardens and native plants. The barrels were completed and placed in 2016. The barrels were moved to our playground in 2018 to allow the children easier access to the barrels to help care for our native gardens in our outdoor classroom. 

3. Aquaponics and hydroponics 

SMDS has enjoyed several harvests from its two aquaponics tanks in the two-and-three-year rooms. The tanks house betta fish and have been growing wheatgrass and radish sprouts, though both the students and teachers are excited to see what other plants they can grow in the tanks. The tanks were initially set up in January 2016 and grow a new batch of seeds each month. The photos above were taken in September of 2019 as we began to set up our tanks for the new school year! 
In the Fall of 2019 SMDS began to create hydroponic gardening inside our classrooms. The students help plant the seeds, set up the system, and maintain the water levels throughout the harvest. So far we have been able to grow enough lettuce throughout the winter to sustain and feed our turtles and bearded dragon. 
Objective 2.2 Solid Waste Reduction
Systemic Sustainability
Student-Driven Sustainability Practices
Community Partnerships, Awards, and Special Recognition