Capital High School - Capital Green Project

Paula Iveland and Debora Ghoreyeb, both participants of the Earth Care Teacher Institute and teachers at Capital High School in Santa Fe, have organized Capital Green Project (CGP). The CGP is a collaboration of over ten teachers—from many disciplines, hundreds of students, and a number of community organizations and businesses. Classes who were involved in the project were: special education, computer aided design (CAD), visual arts, science, history, ESL writing, reading and student government.

CGP strives to intertwine themes of sustainability and environmental stewardship in an academically rigorous and evocative way. The interdisciplinary approach of the project has allowed an authentic space for youth leadership, expression, and collaboration through the use of hands-on activities, such as landscape design, rainwater catchment installations, and a student-created mural and beautification project. Students learned about plant and soil biology and ecosystems by designing, and growing flowers throughout the Capital High courtyard. Students also reflected on the relationship and interaction between the land and human society through various readings.


The project culminated on Earth Day with the unveiling of the completed student mural and landscaping projects, as well as the dedication and naming of the courtyard space, El Sol. The Earth Day celebration was attended by hundreds of students, teachers, faculty, and community members.

Sustainability Education Forum

Earth Care International

Sustainability Education Forum

Earth Care International's first Sustainability Education Forum -Recognizing and Connecting Our Resources - attracted over 100 community members on a beautiful Santa Fe evening at the Clear Light Bookstore. Community participants included teachers, principals, parents, students, community organizations and businesses, Superintendent Bobbie Gutierrez, members of the Sustainable Santa Fe Commission, and Mayor Coss.





The evening began with an invigorating discussion facilitated by Earth Care International's Executive Director, Christina Selby, on the role of education and its relationship to sustainable community development. Many community members suggested that the role of education is not merely to prepare the youth of today for the jobs of tomorrow, but should engage and empower youth in the process of building a more vibrant and sustainable community.


Community members were then asked to shortly speak about projects ideas that could either be implemented in schools or in the larger community. Paula Iveland, an English teacher at Capital High and participant in Earth Care's Teacher Institute for Sustainability Education, spoke briefly about a current project called Capital Green Project (CGP). CGP is an interdisciplinary project that has swept across Capital's campus. Laetitia "Mimi" Narvaez, a teacher at Salazar Elementary and participant in Earth Care's Teacher Institute for Sustainability Education, spoke about Salazar Green, a project designed to create a environmentally friendly track and field, outdoor classroom spaces, and small classroom garden plots. Karen Sneiders, Principal at Alvord Elementary School, spoke about Alvord becoming Santa Fe's first magnet school with the theme of sustainability.


Sevaral groups were then formed using the project ideas as the central theme. These small groups, facilitated by Earth Care Staff, were asked to delve deeper into the motivation for the project - connecting the creating of outdoor spaces and garden plots to the deeper motivations of shifting the youth's relationship to the environment and cultural revitalization through the practice and study of traditional agriculture. Other groups delved into the motivations of creating efficient and effective recycling and waste management processes.

To learn more about each small groups work - click here!

SANTA FE INDIAN SCHOOL
SENIOR HONORS PROJECT
Friday, April 24, 2009, 8:30 A.M.-3:00 P.M.
SFIS CAMPUS
Opening session, 8:30 a.m., Abeyta Gym

WHAT IS THE SHP?
Now in its sixth year, the SFIS Senior Honors Project is an interdisciplinary project designed to address state and school standards and to promote critical thinking across the curriculum. The project, now a graduation requirement, prepares students for higher level research and writing projects by requiring them to complete in-depth analysis and synthesis of a variety of sources, including scholarly articles, websites, surveys, personal interviews, and reference materials.

SHP community panels bring together community members and students to discuss research topics and share resources.In the course of this unit, students explore issues of personal and cultural identity and examine past, present, and future challenges to Native communities posed by such forces as colonialism and the global economy. Students engage in the critical study of indigenous cultures around the world, always with the goal of seeing how Native American experiences fit into a global and historical context.

THE SENIOR HONORS SYMPOSIUM
The culminating project of the SHP unit is a symposium, held in late spring, at which student groups present research findings and recommendations on their topic. Parents, community members, tribal officials, school board members, students, and the entire SFIS community are invited to this event.
In 2005, 87% of students who completed the SHP said that it helped them make a connection between what they learn in school and what their communities need.
2008-2009 SHP TOPICS WILL INCLUDE:
· Native language preservation
· Renewable Energy and Native American
· Economic Development Strategies for Tribes
· Wildlife Management and Habitat Protection
· Federal Environmental Policies
· Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder and Native veterans
· Indian Boarding Schools: The Rise of Self-Determination
· The Role of Technology in Native American Lives
· Native Americans and Voting

MEETING THE ACADEMIC AND CIVIC CHALLENGES:
Dress rehearsals with SFIS staff mentors challenge students to deliver professional presentations with confidence.To meet the state and school requirements for graduation and assure a comprehensive and rewarding experience, students conclude their SHP activities by writing a research paper that details their findings, explores the implications of their research for their communities, and reflects on the impact the project has had on their own lives as students and future community leaders. The 2008-2009 SHP also introduces a Community Action Project, an opportunity for students to apply to their learning outside the classroom.

What are the goals of the SHP?
1. Through their readings, writings, and research, students will develop the critical thinking and information literacy skills needed for graduation and for active participation in their communities and the world.
2. By self-selecting their topics and monitoring their own research, students will develop a sense of ownership and confidence in their ability to find, record, transform, analyze, and use information to solve real problems.
3. By including in their research a study of the challenges faced by other indigenous groups throughout history and around the globe, students will broaden their understanding of the world and learn to put Native American experiences into a broader perspective.
4. Students will develop an understanding of the variety of resources available to help them and their communities respond to the challenges that lie ahead.
5. Students will practice designing project proposals, surveys, and interview questions, and PowerPoint presentations of outstanding quality and professionalism.

You're invited to join a community forum on sustainability education!

Join Earth Care International and the Sustainable Santa Fe Commission for the first of a series of community forums to bring youth, schools, and community members together to advance our collective work to engage and empower youth in the process of building a more vibrant, sustainable community, implement the City's sustainable development goals, and meet schools' educational improvement needs.

Education plays an essential role in the transition to a sustainable society.

Sustainability serves a vital role in motivating and engaging young people in their education.

How can schools contribute to sustainable community?

How can community help schools become sustainable?

What are we already doing?

What can we do together?

Join teachers, youth, and school and community leaders from the Santa Fe area who share these passions and desire for action. Hope to see you there! Please feel free to invite your friends and colleagues.

Please RSVP to Christina Selby at christina@earthcare.org so that we may plan accordingly.

Sincerely,

Christina Selby
Program Director
Earth Care International


Community Forum on Sustainability Education

Group Discussion, Networking, Connecting Resources and Needs, Sustainable Santa Fe Plan

Date: Thursday, April 9th
Time: 4:30 - 7:30
Location: Santa Fe Complex624 Agua Fria (directions: http://rs6.net/tn.jsp?et=1102521327033&e=001Qe1IeaG1WhaKX3a4RJqg1PKJHWSVuo8bCXsr8hAxUylTuUDWo0g4_ZgGi0I8N1D1u57RKBS4IuwEB__HiCVPDgRMDcwl_PxZpQchHH7VJgSwzC-qJvro9A==)

Special Guests:
Bobbie Gutierrez, Superintendent, Santa Fe Public Schools
Camilla Bustamante, Chair, Sustainable Santa Fe Commission

Sponsors:
Earth Care International
City of Santa Fe's Sustainable Santa Fe Commission


Sustainability Education develops the knowledge, skills, thinking, and experience that empower people to contribute meaningfully to the transition to a sustainable society. Sustainability education sees economic viability, democratic participation, diversity, justice and equity as inextricably linked with the regeneration and health of our ecosystems.

Youth Allies

Before embarking on small group service learning projects, 10 youth from the Youth Allies Organizing Program in Santa Fe, New Mexico, piloted a No Idling Public Awareness Campaign to combat climate change.

They hope to inform the public of the unnecessary costs of car idling on the environment, public health, and our pocketbooks.

The goals of the project are to:

• Reduce CO2 emissions caused by Santa Fe drivers by reducing the frequency of car idling
• Improve air quality in Santa Fe by reducing the frequency of car idling, thereby reducing air pollution
• Encourage people to save money for the things they need by reducing unnecessary car idling, thereby saving gas

As part of their public education campaign, they plan to partner with local businesses to put up signs requesting that drivers turn off their engines while waiting for service. The signs will inform drivers of the harmful effects of car idling and the benefits of turning off their engines while they wait.

Below is a public service announce that the youth created to educate the public about the negative effects of no idling.

To learn more about Youth Allies or how you can support their campaign please contact Bianca at bianca@earthcare.

Share Your Classroom's Service Learning Project

In an effort to bridge the gap between schools and the communities they serve, Earth Care International is launching this blog to help both the community and schools stay connected by encouraging Educational Agencies and Community Organizations to share their service learning projects with the public. Consider this Blog the source for highlighting and learning all about Santa Fe's service-learning projects and providers.

If you wish to have your school's project highlighted in this blog, please email Christina at christina@earthcare.org with a short description of your project and photos if any are available. Also let us know about upcoming projects so that we can alert the community to attend your event.