Planning Success and Engineering Fail: Winter Update for Tillman Elementary

It's January. Wow. Winter is in full swing, but spring will be here before we know it. Various member of the Tillman Sustainability Committee have met a few times since I last posted about planning and progress: A Vision is Taking Shape. Most of my efforts over the last few months have been in one one one conversations with folks who are involved or interested. And taking care of the beds that are trying not to stay covered this winter. Lesson learned: I am a people organizer, a gardener, and possibly even an educator--but not a builder or engineer. I was so so confident my low-tech low-tunnel would work with just some bricks and clips to secure the plastic to the frame. (Jenny Grabner, I miss your practical knowledge and skills so much right about now!!)

It held through one round of strong wind and light snow.

These binder clips do really work well. I think it's the fact that the plastic isn't taut on frame and more secure at bottom that is causing the problem.

Calling all engineering people....help!!

We need a version 2.0. 1.0 was no match for Snowpocalypse.

But on to the planning, which seems to go much better for me...

Just prior to Christmas, our committee met, planned a super-ambitious all-school project, and divvied up tasks. Part of my job was to get the word out to parents, and below you will see the two communications that are going out ahead of the Sustainability Design Charrette next week, which will glean ideas from all the students in the school as they walk and talk with the teachers around the school and campus.

Here's how it will work:
Buddy Groups (upper grade classes paired up with younger ones, a mentoring arrangement, they meet monthly) gather to tour 12 stations around the campus and in building to discuss ways to implement sustainability practices at Tillman

• ipads will be used to capture pictures, video, and audio 
• pen and paper will be used to take notes as well
• volunteers at each station will record any themes that emerged repeatedly throughout the activity from the different groups rotating through

 Here's the communication sent out to parents:

E-Newsletter pre-Christmas:

Over the last decade or so, schools across this country have begun to think about sustainability: what it means and what it might look like to integrate this concept into a school’s culture and curriculum. Initiatives and projects are as varied as the U.S. landscape. Many have started with gardens or changes in cafeteria purchasing practices, while others have looked at changes to the curriculum and even building design.

At Tillman, the idea of integrating sustainability practices into school culture has been percolating for several years now. We think the first champion for sustainability at Tillman may have been a recent Tillman grad who dreamed of a greenhouse on the school grounds and worked to get composting started at the school. Or was it a couple of teachers who have long held a vision for a prairie patch at the school? Or perhaps the parents who converse about the complex world their kids will inherit and the skills they hope their kids will have in order to rise to the challenge? No matter who was first, the ideas are flowing, momentum is growing, and we’re ready to take the next step.

Landscape architect Nancy Nafe is volunteering her time and expertise to draw up the Tillman community’s vision for sustainability. She will be gathering ideas from the students and staff at Tillman, and we want you to be a part of this as well. On Friday, January 17, please join us for a sustainability design charrette from 10-11:30 am. More details to follow but for now, please SAVE THE DATE!

If you are unable to join the fun in January, please send your thoughts about sustainability and what it might look like at Tillman to tillmansustainability@gmail.com. We look forward to hearing from you!

Parent communication just after Christmas Break--sent out 3 ways to ensure maximum awareness

Sustainability Design Charrette for the Green Schools Quest

****Rain, Snow, or Shine

Friday, January 17 from 10-11:30 am

9:30 Sustainability Design Charrette: A Brainstorming Tour of the Campus and Building

    **The kids will be going outside for this activity--no matter the weather. Please send appropriate outdoor gear for this activity: hats, gloves, boots. Please send in extra gloves to share with classmates if you are able!

Parents welcome, and volunteers are needed. Please email tillmansustainability@gmail.org or text/call Lesli Moylan at 314-368-0500 if interested in helping.

What is sustainability? In a nutshell, it’s prioritizing the health of the planet, its people, and its communities when making decisions. It’s thinking about how what we do today will impact those living seven generations down the road--and how to balance the needs of the future with the needs of today.

What is a charrette? Literally, it means “cart” in French, and in the design world it means an activity to collect ideas from many people for a specific project. Our design charrette will collect tons of ideas from Tillman students about changes to make our campus and building that contribute to the idea of sustainability.

What is the Green Schools Quest? This is a contest created by the Gateway (St. Louis) Chapter of the Green Building Council, challenging schools in the region to devise and implement sustainable practices for their schools. Our mentor and landscape architect, Nancy Nafe, will take the student ideas from this design charrette and create a landscape design for Tillman. This long-range plan will be a great visual for the community, and will be a great reminder of student interests and priorities as we move forward with outdoor and indoor sustainability efforts over the next few years.

I'm really excited about the charrette, it'll be interesting to see how it turns out. It's so neat to be in a school that truly is committed to student input, and with more than 500 kids churning out ideas next week....who knows what wacky and ingenius idea may be born! One week from today....