We are green!
Our Impact
Pasitos is an eco-conscious school that engages in many environmentally friendly practices. Knowing that being green is an on-going journey, we strive to do things differently for ourselves, for our children, and for our business.
What does it mean to be “green” or “eco-friendly”?
Being “green” and “eco-friendly” is a daily journey of making choices that affect our bodies, the well-being of others and the planet. It ranges from decisions to serving only organic food to bringing our own shopping bags when we make purchases to considering alternatives before making purchases. It is not just who we are, it is what we do.
During a recent staff development activity, we asked our maestras to work together to define “green.” Here is what we created:
How are we green with the children?
We serve only organic food. We wash all plates, cups, and utensils used during snack, rather than use disposables. We have created a space, the imagination station, that we fill with loose parts including recyclable items such as toilet paper rolls and dots from the hole puncher. We provide single sided printer paper donated from parent offices to the children to use for drawing, writing, doodling, etc. We encourage children to use both sides of the paper. A Brita water filter is placed in each classroom, accessible to the children at all times. We compost and recycle instead of throwing everything in the trash. We encourage families and staff to pack a Zero-Waste Lunch. We grow plants, both inside and outside in our garden. We sing our recycle song and say our plastics rhyme. We encourage the children to pick-up trash in our outside play areas. We model green practices.
How are we green in the classroom?
We use non-toxic art supplies including paint and ink pads. We make our own playdough. We provide many wooden toys and manipulatives, instead of plastic. We use second hand toys and manipulatives, instead of purchasing new. We ask families for equipment and material donations when they upgrade at home. We use public transportation, when possible, for field trips. We use soap and water to clean up most messes, instead of dangerous and toxic chemicals. We use glass and ceramic dishes when warming up food in the microwave. We grow and maintain an organic garden. We take off our shoes inside the classroom, especially on the carpet, to reduce the amount of toxins that are trekked inside. We use reusable, recyclable materials whenever possible. We use cloth towels to clean-up daily messes. We turn off the lights when we can. We laminate materials to keep them for longer periods of time.
How are we green as a business?
We only print when necessary. We use recycled paper. We outsource our printing needs to a green printer. We often purchase second hand furniture items. We continually analyze our practices for ways to reduce, to reuse, to recycle, to minimize our impact on the earth while maximizing our impact as good citizens of our planet, and to increase our eco-awareness with compassion.
Eco-Healthy Child Care Certification
Pasitos is an eco-conscious school that engages in many environmentally friendly practices. Knowing that being green is an on-going journey, we strive to do things differently for ourselves, for our children, and for our business.
What does it mean to be “green” or “eco-friendly”?
Being “green” and “eco-friendly” is a daily journey of making choices that affect our bodies, the well-being of others and the planet. It ranges from decisions to serving only organic food to bringing our own shopping bags when we make purchases to considering alternatives before making purchases. It is not just who we are, it is what we do.
During a recent staff development activity, we asked our maestras to work together to define “green.” Here is what we created:
- It is a lifestyle in which we use resources in a responsible way. We reduce, reuse, and recycle in order to keep the planet clean and free of pollution.
- Be conscious! Reuse and reduce. Go organic. Fix instead of replace. Compost and recycle. Ride a bike or use public transportation.
- A person who is conscious about how their lifestyle affects the environment and themselves and takes action.
How are we green with the children?
We serve only organic food. We wash all plates, cups, and utensils used during snack, rather than use disposables. We have created a space, the imagination station, that we fill with loose parts including recyclable items such as toilet paper rolls and dots from the hole puncher. We provide single sided printer paper donated from parent offices to the children to use for drawing, writing, doodling, etc. We encourage children to use both sides of the paper. A Brita water filter is placed in each classroom, accessible to the children at all times. We compost and recycle instead of throwing everything in the trash. We encourage families and staff to pack a Zero-Waste Lunch. We grow plants, both inside and outside in our garden. We sing our recycle song and say our plastics rhyme. We encourage the children to pick-up trash in our outside play areas. We model green practices.
How are we green in the classroom?
We use non-toxic art supplies including paint and ink pads. We make our own playdough. We provide many wooden toys and manipulatives, instead of plastic. We use second hand toys and manipulatives, instead of purchasing new. We ask families for equipment and material donations when they upgrade at home. We use public transportation, when possible, for field trips. We use soap and water to clean up most messes, instead of dangerous and toxic chemicals. We use glass and ceramic dishes when warming up food in the microwave. We grow and maintain an organic garden. We take off our shoes inside the classroom, especially on the carpet, to reduce the amount of toxins that are trekked inside. We use reusable, recyclable materials whenever possible. We use cloth towels to clean-up daily messes. We turn off the lights when we can. We laminate materials to keep them for longer periods of time.
How are we green as a business?
We only print when necessary. We use recycled paper. We outsource our printing needs to a green printer. We often purchase second hand furniture items. We continually analyze our practices for ways to reduce, to reuse, to recycle, to minimize our impact on the earth while maximizing our impact as good citizens of our planet, and to increase our eco-awareness with compassion.
Eco-Healthy Child Care Certification