- Evanston/Skokie School District 65
- Sustainability
Sustainability
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We are a community of parents, teachers, staff, and community members focused on building a brighter, healthier, more equitable future for our children. We are a community daring to dream and working together to heal and restore our planet through local action across our school district. We are educating and engaging our students as future leaders on ways they can champion climate action in our community. We acknowledge the interconnectedness of climate action, equity and justice and welcome all community voices so together we can build a better future.
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Highlights of our Sustainability and Climate Action Initiatives
Click on the links below to learn more
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Lunchroom Composting and Recycling in our Schools
Over 4300 students in 11 schools are composting & recycling in our D65 lunchrooms! Why are we composting and recycling? We’re doing our part to create a healthy planet!
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End of the Year Classroom and Locker Clean Out
Our D65 schools mobilized to gather leftover school supplies from classrooms and lockers that would typically go to the landfill from May 31 to June 10, 2022. We encouraged sharing and reuse within our schools. Click the link above to learn more!
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10 Second Film Festival
On Earth Day 2022, D65 Climate Action Teams and Citizens' Greener Evanston celebrated the third annual 10 Second Film Festival.
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Invention Convention at Nichols
Our 6th graders at Nichols Middle School completed a 2+ month invention challenge to develop climate solutions aligned with the City of Evanston's Climate Action and Resilience Plan.
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Planting Trees and Native Plants on School Grounds
Our climate action and garden teams across the district have been busy planting new trees and native plants on our school grounds. It’s exciting to see our gardens growing and native plantings blooming!
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LED Lighting Upgrades
LED Lighting upgrades and retrofittings are happening over the summer of 2022 in 11 schools across the district.
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Climate Clubs and Roots & Shoots
Our middle schools Climate Clubs have been busy! Roots & Shoots is an after-school offering at Dewey. Click the link above to learn more!
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Garden Clubs at Schools across the District
Garden clubs at our schools across the district are growing beautiful local food. It’s an exciting opportunity to get our students into the garden to learn and discover hands on where our food comes from.
Meet Our Sustainability Coordinator
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Karen Bireta joined in May 2022 as the District’s first sustainability coordinator. She’s an Oakton parent, active in Evanston’s sustainability circles and excited to continue building our sustainability community in District 65 focusing on opportunities to heal & restore our planet.
Karen discovered her interest in the environment started while attending an Earth Day event in 5th grade. She’s a chemical and environmental engineer, bringing 15+ years of environmental and sustainability experience to the district.
Karen loves walking by the Lake, gardening, yoga and family bike rides. She lives in Evanston with her husband, son, baby betta fish and freshwater snail.
If you’re interested in joining our sustainability efforts, contact Karen at biretak@district65.net.
Get Involved!
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Join our Climate Action Community!
We welcome all who are interested in learning more and helping us create a healthier, more sustainable and equitable future for our children.
“Individually, we are one drop. Together, we are an ocean.” ~ Ryunosuke Satoro
Ways you can help:
- Join your school’s climate action team
- Join your school’s garden team and participate in workdays
- Start a climate club at your school
- Plant new trees and native plants at your school
- Volunteer to help with the 10 Second Film Festival for Earth Month
- Join our Climate Action Community across D65
We are embarking on the development of a strategic plan starting the 2022-2023 school year, welcome inclusive community voices to help us develop a holistic and restorative plan reflective of our beautifully diverse school community.
Ready to get involved? Connect with us!
- Karen Bireta, D65 Sustainability Coordinator biretak@district65.net
- Join our D65 Climate Action Community, email d65climateaction@gmail.com or like District 65 Climate Action Teams on Facebook.
Resources
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- City of Evanston Climate Change including Climate Action and Resilience Plan
- City of Evanston Public Works Services including Recycling, Composting, Donations
- Evanston Public Library - Blueberry Award - selection of the best books for kids about nature and the planet
- Roots & Shoots: you have the power to build a better world - do a one-click action, take a challenge, explore project ideas
- NASA Climate Kids
- National Geographic Kids - Save the Earth
- Citizens' Greener Evanston
- Evanston Rebuilding Warehouse
- The WasteShed Evanston
- Solid Waste Agency of Northern Cook County (SWANCC) - reuse/recycling directory, chemical and paint disposal, recycling FAQ
- Seven Generations Ahead
- Chicago Furniture Bank