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Sustainability in Lake Oswego Schools
The Lake Oswego School District (LOSD) has embraced sustainability in many different ways – in its curriculum, in its new facilities, and as one of the four key pillars in its strategic plan. In this month’s newsletter, we’re sharing sustainability highlights from the 2023-24 school year.
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Sustainability Curriculum
For the second year, Lakeridge and Lake Oswego high schools have offered elective classes on sustainability. Both high schools also have green teams to help promote sustainability within their school communities.
Testimony from LOHS student Brody Trost:
“My name is Brady Trost, and I was in Mrs. Foster’s Sustainability class this year. The Sustainability class is super fun, you go on a lot of field trips and learn a lot about the environment. Earlier in 1st semester, our class went to the PAE building in Portland. The building was an incredibly sustainable building, and they filtered their own water for consumption. Many people in the class said that the water tastes especially good there. Our class also went to Forest Hill Elementary as our final, and we got to read the students a book called We Are Water Protectors by Carole Lindstrom. The book talks about water and how Native American people wish to protect their water. Our class was lucky to read this book to two 5th grade classes… Overall, Sustainability is a really fun class, and you can make new friends.”
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Pictured above: Lake Oswego High School’s solar flower, greenhouse and garden.
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Testimony from LOHS student Lyra Johnson:
“My name is Lyra Johnson, and I’m this year’s Green Team president. Green Team is the LOHS environmental activism club, focused on service, stewardship and environmental education. I joined the club in my freshman year while looking for something to do during the pandemic, and have found that the events, activities and opportunities it offers provide huge relief against climate anxiety and hopelessness. From regular land tending events, where we pull ivy, pick up trash and plant native species, to educational opportunities around the community (such as the annual Tree Summit on November 4, where I met so many inspiring individuals crafting havens of biodiversity in their own backyards), Green Team allows students to contribute in whatever capacity interests them.”
Lakeridge High School opened its greenhouse and agricultural spaces in fall 2023. Thanks to a collaboration between Marketing and Farm to School, students in the class sell vegetable starts and vegetables that they grow in their campus farm beds.
Sustainability curriculum has also expanded to elementary and middle schools. All 5th graders participate in place-based Healthy Waters walking field trips from their individual campuses that are provided by the Oswego Lake Watershed Council. The gardens were refurbished at Lake Grove Elementary while Westridge Elementary designed and built new gardens.
Both middle schools will add a garden/horticulture elective this fall.
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With the end of the school year fast-approaching, community members interested in helping tend school gardens during the summer should email LOSN Board Member, Stephanie Wagner, at stephanie@natureed.org.
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Pictured above: Raised beds and outdoor classroom at River Grove Elementary.
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River Grove’s Path to Net Zero
River Grove Elementary will raise the District’s goal for resilience to a new level. The structure is designed to a high seismic importance factor as a Category IV building that can offer shelter and emergency services to the neighboring community in the event of a seismic or other natural disaster.
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In a region previously known for successful passive design projects, Oregonians are having to adjust to a new normal of annual forest fire activity and record-setting heat waves. In response to the changing climate conditions, the River Grove design incorporates a fully electric, sophisticated ventilation and cooling system that, when fully operational, will have a net zero energy use. A collaboration between the school district and PGE enabled the design team to innovate further by developing a microgrid design, one of the first schools in America to feature this innovation. This design actively supports the state’s effort to reach zero carbon energy production by 2040.
How River Grove Will Achieve Net Zero by 2040
- Fully electric mechanical and plumbing systems
- 150 kW photovoltaic solar array on the rooftop provides approximatley 10% of annual energy consumption
- On-site battery energy storage system (BESS) reduces peak electrical load demands when the utility grid is strained and at its highest carbon impact
- Emergency power is provided by a combination of BESS and diesel generator power for community resilience
- Dedicated Outside Air Systems (DOAS) deliver filtered outside air and remove unwanted air throughout the building
- High-efficiency air cooled chillers produce medium temperature chilled water to cool classroom and admin spaces
- Commons and gym are served by single zone high-efficiency packaged heat pumps to provide space conditioning and ventilation
- HVAC systems in the gym and commons are provided on standby power so these spaces can continue to operate in case of prolonged loss of power
- Hot water is created using heat pump water heaters
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All Lake Oswego Schools Are Certified Oregon Green Schools
- Installation of the photovoltaic solar array at Lakeridge Middle School was completed this year, and it is expected to produce 213,000 kWh hour annually
- Hallinan Elementary received upgrades to lighting, roof and wall insulation and hydro pumps and boilers
- Oak Creek Elementary received energy efficient upgrades such as new boilers, wall insulation, high efficiency windows, and high efficiency lighting with occupancy sensors
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Sustainability: a Strategic Pillar
The most recent Lake Oswego School District strategic plan adopted by the School Board identifies sustainability as one of its four key pillars. Two years ago, the School Board created advisory committees made up of students, staff, parents and community members for each of its strategic pillars.
Last year, the Sustainability Advisory Committee drafted a sustainability lens to complement the DEI (Diversity, Equity and Inclusion) lens. The district has started using the lens to help guide its decision making. For example, they used it this year when they adopted the new science curriculum.
The committee was also asked by the School Board to update the district’s sustainability policy to make it consistent with the strategic plan. The committee has completed its work and has forwarded the updated policy to the School Board for adoption.
An interesting activity initiated by the Sustainability Advisory Board was a sustainability survey created by the student members. Initially the intent was to solicit feedback on the sustainability policy from middle school students. But as they worked on writing it, they broadened the scope of the survey to focus on understanding where and how students learned about sustainability. In its final form, the survey was given not only to middle school students, but to high school students, teachers, and non-teaching staff as well. Below are highlights from 1,000 respondents:
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Students learned about sustainability from a variety of classes. In addition to Science classes. Health, English, and Social Studies were important sources for learning about sustainability.
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Teachers and Staff shared how they used content with their students to explore concepts. Their actions were wide reaching, and they looked for opportunities to integrate sustainability within their curricula.
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Sustainable School Events
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Third Annual Lake Oswego Sustainability Resource Fair
Students from both high schools participated in the third annual Lake Oswego Sustainability Resource Fair (LOSRF) at Lakeridge Middle School. Sustainability classes, Green Teams, Farm to School, and Sustainable Sewing clubs made connections with one another and the community. It was a great opportunity for students to demonstrate their commitment to sustainability and to show people how they are working for sustainable schools in LOSD.
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Pictured above: Lakeridge High School Farm to School students sell plant starts.
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Clothing Drive and Share Day
Lake Oswego High School’s Sewing Club and Sustainable Fashion Club collected gently used clothing from their fellow students for two weeks. During lunch, they shared the clothing with their peers. It was the second annual event, and they plan to keep going for years to come.
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Earth Week Celebration
The LOHS Green Team planned and coordinated a week-long series of events in April. The goal was to bring students together with the common goal of learning, sharing, and doing service. Events included Land Tending, a showing and discussion of “Atomic Hope,” the Lake Oswego Sustainability Resource Fair, and the Asian Cultural Festival. They capped off the week with a picnic to celebrate in the outdoor classroom.
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