School raises “green”-minded students

BY NAZBANOO PAHLAVI

In this week's Sun Community Newspapers www.suncommunitynewspapers.com


Amongst the apartment buildings and Mexican restaurants that line Victory Boulevard just east of Woodman Avenue in Valley Glen, Laurence School stands out as an ecological haven.

Established in 1953 as a kindergarten through 6th grade co-educational school, the campus is filled with green spaces and flowers, miniature ecosystems and exotic plants.

Laurence has been involved in green education for 25 years, according to Lauren Wolke, Associate Head and Director of Admissions, but they have placed an even heavier emphasis on the subject since the school’s expansion in 2004. Now Laurence practices a “Go Global Go Green” motto in campus design, work ethic, and classroom curriculum.

In addition to the beautiful “greenscaping,” the expansion plans made an effort to incorporate green materials in building construction. The floor of the sports court, an outdoor basketball area, is made of recycled tires. Eco-friendly carpeting and non-toxic VOC paint were also used in the classrooms.

For Principal Gary Stern, it is important that students not only learn about conservation and environmental protection didactically in the classroom, but also through hands-on approaches as well.

“I think it’s probably the most timely and compelling issue,” Stern said. “The overarching goal of the program is for the children to develop an appreciation and an understanding of the importance of the beauty of preserving our natural resources and treasures, so that the planet they inherit can be one that can be self-sustaining.”

The administration encourages students to bring “zero-waste” lunches that include reusable utensils and napkins. Small incentives are also used to limit waste, such as a green flag on top of refuse cans when the garbage level is noticeably low.

Students are taught to compost non-dairy and non-meat items such as fruit peels from their lunches. They then use it to fertilize a student-run edible garden. The goal of the garden is to grow herbs, plants and flowers based on chosen themes, which are then sold at a farmer’s market in the spring.

“It shows them the full cycle of life and where foods come from and plants and products and they can see how the cycle goes back into the garden,” said Wolke.

Many students – some as young as six years old – also assume a specific responsibility according to their grade.

Josh, a 5th grade student in teacher Rochelle Robinson’s class, recalled his fourth grade duty. “When you came in to carpool they would collect extra bottles and cans you had,” he said. The fourth graders exchange their recyclables for cash to buy thesauruses and books for a disadvantaged school in the area.

Wolke and Stern shared their techniques at the Green Schools Summit that was held in Pasadena in December. They also strive to integrate their green initiative on the business end by reducing paper use and utilizing flash drives to share information.

“It’s a conscious effort,” Wolke stressed.

The school’s farmers market, which was held May 18, was managed by the 5th grade as their community service project and attended by Laurence School family and friends.

Robinson said she was pleasantly surprised that her students took to the selling aspect of the market, using math skills and even negotiation techniques when interacting with customers. “I think they’re enjoying it,” she said.

The funds raised from the sale were donated to TreePeople, a local environmental non-profit organization that helps plant trees in Los Angeles.

Stern said he was especially proud of a group of third graders who initiated their own “Eco-Team” to do more for the environment beyond the scope of the school’s program. The students held a bake sale and raised money to purchase a kumquat tree they then planted in the garden.

“They themselves are taking a leadership role outside of school in terms of protecting and preserving our environment,” he said.