Sustainability at PPS

In March 2022, the Board of Education passed the PPS Climate Crisis Response, Climate Justice and Sustainability Practices Policy (CCRP for short), establishing these as district priorities for the next 30 years.

The Climate Crisis Response Policy includes 3 Pillars:

1. Improve PPS Environmental Impact
2. Promoting Wellness and Climate Resilience, prioritizing frontline communities.
3. Providing Effective Environmental Education

In this newsletter issue we’ll share more information about the CCRP and updates on our progress in the last year. We'll also be sharing about the completion of Creston Elementary Schools new Rain Garden, and some wonderful events happening this month!

Here are just a few examples of the work PPS has been doing to implement the CCRP:

Pillar 1:

Completed Greenhouse Gas Inventory: The first step towards meeting any climate policy is to know your baseline -- understanding where you are so that you can make a plan for where you're going and measure progress over time.

Earlier this year, PPS partnered with Good Company (Eugene, Oregon) to conduct the district's first ever greenhouse gas inventory. We are excited to share what we’ve learned from this inventory!

Key Findings

• Current GHG emissions: 46,055 MT CO2, equivalent to about 10,000 passenger vehicles driven for 1 year.

• The policy calls for 50% reduction of PPS emissions by 2030, so we have 7 years to reduce that number down to 23,027 MT CO2.

• Top emission sources for PPS:

• Natural Gas (48%)

• Electricity (41%)

• Fleet Fuels (10%)

• Solid Waste (1%)

• Energy efficiency and solar will be the quickest and most cost effective ways to reach our shorter term goals

• Electrifying our buildings is the best strategy for meeting our long term goals
  

• PGE and Pacific Power will need to hit net zero carbon emissions by 2040 in order for PPS to meet its climate targets.

Click here to read the full report.

Transportation: The district is expecting to receive its first 2 electric school buses in mid-March from Greenpower, an all electric transit manufacturer. We have just received board approval to purchase a 3rd bus through from Greenpower as well. All of these buses are partially grant funded through PGE and Pacific Power.

New Buildings: Jefferson School Modernization - Jefferson is the first school to be modernized since the passing of the CCRP and, in alignment with the goals stated in the CCRP, will be all-electric. It is the second all-electric school building in the district along with Kellogg Middle School, which was modernized and reopened in Sept. 2021.

Pillar 2:

Farm to School Programming: Since 2006, Nutrition Services has made consistent progress on the CCRP goal of connecting students to nutritious, local food. The Nutrition Services department started their Farm to School program in the 2006-2007 school year. The department started with focusing on fruits and vegetables, such as watermelon, asparagus, and squash grown in Oregon. Since then the department expanded to purchasing locally grown and made foods throughout Oregon and the northwest region including items like 3 bean chili, yakisoba noodles, tamales, pizza, beans, hummus, beef, rockfish and more.

Annually contributing over $2.2 million into the local economy making up at least 32% of total PPS purchases, the department has continued to work towards this goal throughout the years, regularly receiving state Farm to School funding to further expand these efforts. This allows the department to focus on not only supporting the local economy, but also ensuring that many of its foods and supplies are traveling short distances, and decreasing the impact on the climate.

Reusable Silverware: Each year an estimated 40,000,000,000 plastic forks, spoons and knives are thrown away in the U.S. The PPS Nutrition Services team continues to implement the use of reusable materials in our school cafeterias and the passing of the CCRP has boosted that work -- new funding has allowed Nutrition Services staff to successfully distribute reusable silverware at numerous additional sites this year.

Pillar 3:

School Gardens: PPS has over 65 school gardens, more than 12 of which have year-round garden education programming with organizations like Grow Portland and Growing Gardens, as well as many after school gardening clubs, such as those supported by the SUN after school program. Gardens at schools have several environmental and climate change resiliency benefits including:

• Supporting students in re-acquiring food growing skills that can improve their resilience to climate-driven food shortages and inflation prices

• Growing local food reduces transportation emissions from shipping food from elsewhere

• Growing food on a small scale is often better for soil health

• Our gardens use mostly organic food cultivation practices, meaning there are less harmful chemicals entering waterways in our garden-grown food than in typical industrial agriculture.

To learn more, head over to the February PPS Sustainability Newsletter

Climate Change Education: Climate change education has been integrated into numerous courses and grades in PPS, from 1st graders learning about parents and offspring to 3rd graders learning about bees to science classes across high school.

Climate Justice Elective: Firstly, what is Climate Justice? As Mary Robinson [former president of Ireland and Chair of the Elders] puts it, “Climate justice ‘insists on a shift from a discourse on greenhouse gases and melting ice caps into a civil rights movement with the people and communities most vulnerable to climate impacts at its heart”

The CCRP calls not just for climate and environmental education, but for PPS to “provide opportunities for students to probe the underlying causes of the climate crisis and the structural racism embedded in climate change due to actions by majority white countries with disproportionate negative burdens and impacts on people of color”.

To work towards this goal of providing climate justice education, PPS High School climate justice electives were collaboratively designed by science and social studies educators, climate justice community partners (like APANO, Verde and the Immigrant and Refugee Community Organization), with students at the heart of the design process. The elective was piloted at 6 schools in the 2020-2021 school year.

This year there are 110 students enrolled in the high school Climate Justice elective, across 7 schools. Students learn about the connection between climate change and social justice, and how to create and implement student-led climate initiatives within their schools and communities. PPS hopes to add the class in more high schools each year.

Launching the School Sustainability Champions Network: The School Sustainability Champions is a network of teachers, school administrative staff, and PPS central office staff working together to advance grassroots sustainability and climate justice initiatives within schools. The program will establish a centralized platform for collaboration, support, and celebration among staff. And help school staff organize student-facing projects like waste reduction, outdoor learning spaces, starting a walk/bike to school route, or hosting a student green club. If you are interested in being a School Sustainability Champion, get in touch with us at sustainability@pps.net.

That’s all the updates we could fit into this issue, but be sure to check out the PPS Climate Justice Webpage for more. We will also be launching a PPS Climate Justice YouTube Channel in a few weeks, stay tuned.

Did you learn something about the CCRP? Do you want to share this information with your class? The PPS Sustainability and Climate Justice department staff offer Climate Crisis Response Policy class presentations for high schoolers. Email Sustainability@pps.net to request a presentation from our team.

Back in 2020, Creston School's playground and pavement area would flood when it rained, making it challenging to use the play equipment. The Creston Community knew this was something that needed to be changed, so they collaborated with local engineering firm KPFF, Learning Landscapes, and landscape contractor Grasstains to develop and implement a project that would help divert stormwater runoff from the shared sewer. KPFF and Learning Landscape Design donated countless hours to help design the space and Grasstains helped to bring the space to life. This project was led by Creston PTA with the full support of Creston School staff and teachers.

In order to implement this project idea, KPFF applied for and received an amazing $150,000+ grant on behalf of Creston School from the City of Portland. The project was slated to start the following summer (2021) but due to COVID restrictions, it was delayed.

Construction started in Spring 2022 and finished in the Fall when roughly 400 plants were planted by 80+ Creston teachers, students and family volunteers! The design features tons of learning elements such as native plant life information, weather collecting information, a set up for an outdoor classroom, raised beds and much more. This brand new space is now not only functional for storm water mitigation but is inline with Creston's STEAM school designation and serves as an educational foundation for teachers to utilize for Creston students for years to come.

It’s Wednesday, March 8th, at Robert Gray Middle School. Students sit atop the bleachers, looking out onto the gymnasium floor. A single student MC walks forward, microphone in hand. The seated students fall silent, and the MC says “Welcome to the 2nd annual Climate Solutions Fair at Robert Gray!”

Put on by SAGE, an amazing PPS partner, the Robert Gray Climate Solutions Fair is turning into quite the annual event, where teachers, students, and community members come together for a full day of learning and exploring.

Once the welcoming speech is done, the students excitedly head out onto the gym floor, towards an array of organizations with amazing climate solutions to share. The students flit from table to table, engaged in the various solutions they’re learning about. One table showcases biomimicry, specifically looking at how much less energy fans would use (and how quieter they would be) if their designs were based on the fluidity of sealife. Another table asks students to determine where certain foods should be stored in a kitchen; storing food correctly increases shelf life and decreases the likelihood of food waste. A third station has no table, but a bike that is hooked up in such a way that when the students pedal, they charge phones! This bike was actually made by an amazing Robert Gray teacher, Paul Bubl.

We want to give a big thanks to SAGE, Paul Bubl and the rest of the Robert Gray community for making this fair possible! Your work inspires the next generation of Portlanders and global citizens to find creative, fun solutions to fight climate change.

Be part of the solution for a better climate future! The Portland Clean Energy Funds wants to hear your feedback on a preliminary draft of the first-ever Climate Investment Plan, which will guide $700-750 million of investments to address climate change over the next five years.

Drop by with your friends and family on Saturday, March 18 between 1-4 p.m. to shape a better climate future, create environmentally conscious crafts, and enjoy some food.

When: Saturday, March 18th, 1:00pm-4:00pm

Where: CORE food hall on Powell and SE 82nd

Register for the event to get reminders.

Can’t make it to the event? Learn about more opportunities to get involved including our virtual workshop on March 22, 5-6p.m.: www.portland.gov/engage-cip

“Reconnecting With Roots: A Youth Environmental Conservation Summit” is an event hosted by the Sunset High School Climate Change Club, Next Gen Innovators, and the Sherwood High School Green Team. The summit will feature keynote speakers addressing Environmental Occupations, Environmental Education, Climate Grief, and more!

In addition, there will be interactive booths and activities to check out–these include local environmental organizations, high school environmental clubs, an environmentally friendly clothing swap, and guided nature walks through the refuge. The event is free to attend and we encourage people of all ages to join–especially youth! Our mission is to bring people together to learn about our environment, ask important questions, and, most of all, be a part of Reconnecting With Roots!

When: April 15th, 1:00pm-5:00pm

Where: Tualatin River National Wildlife Refuge Visitor Center (19255 SW Pacific Hwy, Sherwood, OR 97140)

For more information, please see the SHS Climate Change Club website.

Sitton Elementary’s incredible Kinder EA, Jimmy Whipps and their adult child, Leweln Whipps are published authors! Fighting in a World on Fire, their YA adaptation of Andreas Malm's 2021 How to Blow Up A Pipeline, was released in February. In this adaptation of Andreas Malm’s best-selling book on the need for a bolder, more confrontational climate justice movement, urgent climate questions are brought to the most important audience of all: those who are growing up in a world on fire.

You can purchase the book at your local bookstore, or order it online at Verso!

The PPS Sustainability team is hoping to showcase sustainability programming across PPS as part of Earth Week in April. If you are a teacher or other school staff, we invite you to fill out this short sustainability programming form! Once you've filled out the form, we'll reach out about featuring one or more of the sustainability programs currently happening at your school.

Are you a school garden instructor or community garden leader and need the code for a free kit? Email us at plantaseed@slowfoodusa.org.

Get ready to do a deep dive into glorious greens with Slow Food USA’s plant a seed kit! This special kit features seven packets of assorted greens seeds, guaranteed to include at least one Ark of Taste green: Feaster’s Mustard. We’re sharing a record number of seeds in this year’s kit to properly showcase the bountiful biodiversity of this group! The kit includes growing information, stories about the varieties, stickers and more. Join the Slow Food community as we grow greens together and see what they have to teach us about climate resilience, nutrition, and cultural and biological diversity.

For more information, head to the Slow Food USA webpage.

Join the Washington County Master Gardener Association at PCC Rock Creek this Saturday for their second of three presentations on mason bees! This presentation focuses on the environmental needs of the mason bees, nesting behaviors of mason bees, nesting, and housing devices attractive to mason bees. This event is free, with no registration required. For more information, click here.

When: Saturday, March 11, 10:00am - 12:00pm

Where: PCC Rock Creek Bldg. 4, Room 103 (17705 NW Springville Rd Portland, Oregon 97229)

Portland Urban Forestry is hosting a tree planting at Bloomington Park this Saturday. All materials will be provided to help plant the trees, all you need to bring is yourself, weather protection, and a water bottle!

Registration is required. For more information and to register, click here.

When: Saturday, March 11, 10:00am - 1:00pm

Where: Bloomington Park (5126 SE 100th Ave, Portland, OR 97266)

Join Friends of Trees to plant trees together in North Portland neighborhoods of Piedmont, Kenton, and Portsmouth! Friends of Trees provides gloves, tools, and guidance, as well as light breakfast snacks and coffee/tea/hot chocolate. All volunteers are asked to dress for the weather, and wear sturdy shoes/boots you don't mind getting dirty. This will be a relatively small planting by Friends of Trees’ standards -- if you'd like to join a more intimate community planting this is a good one!

Registration is required. For more information click here, and to register click here.

When: Saturday, March 18, 8:45am - 1:00pm

Where: N Farragut St & N Delaware Ave, Portland, OR 97217

Experience a three-hour guided forest bathing offering among Hoyt Arboretum’s unique tree collection and forested areas. Forest Bathing (also known as Forest Therapy) offers many health benefits from stress relief to immune system and mood support. This new program allows for additional guided invitations as forest partnership is extended for an additional hour.

Registration is required. For more information and to register, click here.

When: Saturday, March 25, 9:00am - 12:00pm

Where: 4000 SW Fairview Blvd, Portland, OR 97221

Cost: $40.00 for members, $45.00 for non-members

The natural world is full of creative inspiration! In this workshop, participants will explore different monoprint techniques with leaves and ferns to create unique art that celebrates the beauty of nature. You will explore making Hoyt Arboretum’s own eco-friendly printing ink to use in some of your prints. Each participant will create multiple pieces that can be framed or turned into nature-inspired greeting cards and more.

Registration is required and limited. For more information and to register, click here.

When: Saturday, March 25, 9:30am - 11:00am

Where: 4000 SW Fairview Blvd, Portland, OR 97221

Cost: $40.00 for members, $45.00 for non-members

Register for the Urban Ecology and Conservation Symposium 2023 happening March 25! The UERC is a consortium of people from various universities and colleges, state and federal agencies, local governments, non-profit organizations and independent professionals interested in supporting urban ecosystem research and creating an information-sharing network of people that collect and use ecological data in the Portland/Vancouver area.

Breakfast, lunch, and snacks will be provided at the event. Registrations will be accepted at the door, as space allows, with fees paid by credit or debit card only.

For more information and to register, click here.

When: Tuesday, April 4, 9:00am - 5:00pm

Where: Portland State University (1825 Southwest Broadway Portland, OR 97201)

Cost: $15.00 for students, $70.00 for professionals