Environmental Awareness Expands as Composting Comes to Campus

A year ago we reported on Bridges Academy students’ newfound respect for the “Four Rs” upon returning from their three-day outdoor education trip at Camp Arroyo. Hearing reduce, reuse, recycle, and rot all rolling off the kids’ tongues, Bridges staff resolved to build on that environmental enthusiasm in 2010-11.

“This year,” says 4th-grade teacher Soo Hyun Han, “we really wanted a post-trip project that was more far-reaching than projects in the past, one that would definitely affect everyone on campus.”

Conveniently, there was already movement in that direction, from Bridges’ garden program. “Our after-school coordinator Alia, who is in charge of the garden, already wanted to start a composting project here,” says 4th-grade teacher Pat Kaplan. “So it worked out that we were wanting the same thing.”

“One of the great things has been seeing the older kids learn about it and then train the younger kids,” reflects Kaplan, who says student leaders made up the posters pictured here, and went from classroom to classroom presenting the composting process. “They’ve shown a lot of leadership.”

In the cafeteria, the impact is on compelling display. As students finish their lunches, they approach the middle of the room where three receptacles await their garbage, compost, and recycling. With an assist from Bridges Custodian Mr. Robinson and Cafeteria Supervisor Ms. Cross, two students monitor the compost station, helping kids sort their items.

“I’m happy we’re protecting the environment because if we don’t, the landfills get bigger,” explains 4th-grader Yajaira. Her fellow compost crew leader Janelly elaborates, explaining how landfills produce methane, a major culprit in polluting our air.

“They’re known as the experts now,” says Han. “They’re in the cafeteria every day, taking turns monitoring.” The composting bug has caught on school-wide, with all school staff in the mix, plus support from partners at Waste Management and stopwaste.org (which also sponsored the school’s Camp Arroyo scholarships this year). “It’s really been a team effort,” says Kaplan.

4th-grade teachers Stephanie Pool and Rosa Kurshan have seen the spirit extend into their classrooms. “They like to police me a lot,” says Kurshan. “I call them my eco-police, always looking around and asking, ‘Where’s the compost?’”

“They’re very aware in class,” concurs Pool, “saying, ‘Oh, could we compost this?’ It’s something they’re really trying to think about.”

If you would like to support Bridges Academy, you can donate online here (picking “Bridges Academy” in the pull-down) or by check: “OSF/Bridges,” P.O. Box 27148, Oakland, CA 94602. Thank you!