Latino Perspectives Magazine January 2012

Page 40

Will You Be There?

In addition, Eight’s educational team will conduct professional development workshops for classroom teachers, early-care providers and out-of-school providers on using the power of media for inclusive, intentional and engaging instruction including Ready To Learn resources. Working with major partners, Eight plans to leverage the project’s impact through their reach and expertise. Its major partners include the Arizona Department of Education, Arizona Head Start, Balsz School District, Coconino County Superintendent of Schools, Creighton School District, Discovery Triangle Development Corporation, First Things First, Maricopa Integrated Health System, Latino Institute and City of Phoenix “Phoenix Afterschool Center” and Social Venture Partners of Arizona. Eight will support partners in using the Ready To Learn content through curriculum mapping and alignment to Arizona academic and early learning standards. It will also track the project’s impact through survey and research mechanisms designed in collaboration with these partners.

Schoolhouse goes green Roadrunner Elementary School in

January is National Mentoring Month. Will you be there for one of the more than 10,000 children in out-of-home care in Arizona? If you have spent time as a child in a foster or group home or in a relative’s care, we would like to talk with you about becoming a mentor. Learn more at www.inmyshoesinc.org/mentor or call 520.747.1533.

40

Latino Perspectives Magazine

¡ January 2012!

latinopm.com

Phoenix is the first of 18 schools nationwide to be part of the Green Schoolhouse Series (GSHS) that creates environmentally sustainable and LEED Platinumcertified facilities. GSHS, in collaboration with CAUSE AND EFFECT Evolutions and Washington Elementary School District, broke ground on the first Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Platinum-designed schoolhouse built entirely by volunteers on the campus of Roadrunner Elementary School last month. The 6,000-square-foot project in Phoenix will be the launching pad of state-of-the-art green schoolhouses on campuses across the country. The schoolhouse at Roadrunner, named Safari, will be a teaching tool, educating the students and community members on the importance of sustainable living and building practices. Safari’s sustainable features include a solar rooftop system, STEM-devoted (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) classroom, rainwater harvesting capabilities, interactive white boards, an outdoor classroom and native gardens. “We are thrilled to see everyone’s efforts come together to begin construction on our first schoolhouse,” said Marshall G. Zotara, cofounder and senior manag-

ing partner of CAUSE AND EFFECT Evolutions. “Not only will the students benefit from learning in a healthier classroom setting, Safari will also serve as an integral part of the surrounding community.” Features and sponsors of the schoolhouse include:

Rainwater harvesting system – Brae

Solar roof system – Empire Renewable Energy

Native green garden – Blue Cross Blue Shield of Arizona

Eco-friendly windows – Pella Corporation

STEM classroom – DeVry University

Schoolhouse kitchen – Kraft Foods and IGA

Energy efficient fans – Rite-Hite Fans

State-of-the-art water bottle refilling stations – Elkay

No VOC paint – Glidden

The project is a collaboration of corporations, school districts, foundations, municipalities, communities and volunteers to build environmentally sustainable schoolhouses on existing Title I, lowincome, K-12 public school campuses. A complementary aspect of the program is to integrate sustainable education and gardens into the overall Green Schoolhouse project, so that these schools are green and healthy inside and out.


Issuu converts static files into: digital portfolios, online yearbooks, online catalogs, digital photo albums and more. Sign up and create your flipbook.