Lakeridge Elementary School has been recognized with a Washington State Green School Leader Award by the Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction. The award recognizes schools in Washington state whose practices reduce waste and protect the environment.

Lakeridge was honored for its excellence in pillar 1, reducing environmental impact and costs. The school first formed a Green Team six years ago, spearheaded by parent Nancy Weil and teacher Heather McLyman, who now leads the team. Today, Green Teams exist in every elementary school in the district.

Lakeridge has taken several steps to become more earth-friendly. Students recycle and compost leftovers and trash in their lunchroom with the assistance of student volunteers. The school also replaced light bulbs throughout the building with more efficient LEDs and installed lighting that shuts off when a room is empty. Staff members also installed low-flow faucets and modified the way they irrigate the outdoor landscape to conserve water.

The school’s Green Team also teaches students about environmental stewardship in their daily life.

“Our goal is that this becomes second nature to students, so when they grow up and join the world they’ll make that connection,” Weil said.

“In the six years we’ve been doing this, the world’s outlook has changed on global warming. We have received full support from the district and spread these practices to every school in the district,” she added.

Mercer Island School District is one of several school districts that also partners with King County’s Green Schools Program.