2007 Teacher Newsletter

Programs and resources that are available to West Sacramento schools include:

Earth Day Grocery Bag Project & Contest

Each year, the Refuse & Recycling Division and Waste Management, Inc. coordinate the Earth Day

Grocery Bag Project and Contest.  This project is an activity that promotes environmental awareness in schools and their communities.  It is a FREE activity that hundreds of schools around the world will be involved in on Earth Day, April 22.  Here is how the event works: Your school will receive paper grocery bags provided by a local grocery store for the students to decorate with colorful environmental messages. The bags will be judged for prizes, distributed to the grocery store, and used to bag groceries for shoppers on Earth Day!  Call the Division at 617-4590 for more information.

Phone Book Recycling Challenge

Coordinated through the City of West Sacramento Refuse & Recycling Division, the Telephone Book Recycling Challenge is an activity that can raise money for your school while helping to conserve natural resources.  Here is how the challenge works: Your school is supplied with a recycling bin for collection of telephone directories.  WASTE MANAGEMENT, your school waste & recycling hauler, will provide the container and will pay the school for the books collected (about ten cents per book).  Call the Division at 617-4590 for more information.

Curriculum
The Division encourages the use of the California Integrated Waste Management Board curriculum, a no-cost teacher training. Visit www.ciwmb.ca.gov/schools for additional information. This site also lists grants available. For assistance on grant writing and program development contact the City Recycling Division @ 617-4590 or e-mail at recycle@cityofwestsacramento.org.

School Performances
The City contracts with outside sources to provide elementary schools with free auditorium style performances focusing on waste reduction, reuse, recycling and composting. In addition, funding is available on a case-by-case basis for specialty programs. For more information contact the City Recycling Division at 617-4590 or e-mail at recycle@cityofwestsacramento.org.

Classroom Presentations
Refuse & Recycling Division staff is available to make classroom presentations that focus on various waste reduction and recycling practices. For more information contact the City Recycling Division at 617-4590 or e-mail at recycle@cityofwestsacramento.org.

Tours
Tours of City-utilized or regional waste disposal and recycling facilities are available. The City will fund the cost of transportation as well as pre/post tour activities. For more information contact the City Recycling Division at 617-4590 or e-mail at recycle@cityofwestsacramento.org.

Resource Area for Teaching (RAFT)

RAFT is now open in Sacramento!! Located at 3136 Howard Street, McClellan, CA, RAFT exists to ensure that top-quality hands-on teaching – the most effective method for most subjects, including science, math, technology and art – is provided to students of all ages.
Since opening its doors in the bay area in 1995, RAFT has grown into a significant organization serving more than 6,000 educators and nonprofit organizations in the greater San Jose Area – impacting 600,000 children per year. RAFT opened it’s doors in Sacramento this year, making it easier for West Sacramento teachers to take advantage of this great resource.

There is a $35 annual membership fee, which the City of West Sacramento Refuse & Recycling Division will pay for West Sacramento teachers while funding lasts.

For more information about Sacramento RAFT, please visit their website:

http://www.raftsac.org/cms/