Tahoma Student Receives Earth Hero Award

Cassandra Houghton received the Earth Hero Award from King County on April 25th. The Earth Heroes at School Program celebrates King County students, teachers, staff, and volunteers who implement projects at their school or beyond to protect our environment. Cassandra received the special recognition – Committee’s Choice for "exceptional work as described by their nominators”. Out of the 29 Earth Heroes for 2013, only 3 (2 students and one teacher) received special recognition.

As a member of her school’s Sustainability Ambassadors since her sophomore year and currently as club president, Cassandra Houghton has helped Tahoma High School reach Level Two of the King County Green Schools Program.  She has also worked on storm water issues for the City of Maple Valley and the district-wide Waste-Free Wednesday project.  Cassandra has also been key in securing an $80,000 State Farm Youth Grant that is funding a variety of stormwater green infrastructure projects at many of the Tahoma campuses that will be used in teaching and learning as well as helping to mitigate stormwater runoff.  Cassandra is an amazing Tahoma Senior who plan to pursue a career in an area of sustainability. 

Click here to go to the King County website for more information and other winners

Learning to Reuse

Tahoma Jr. High’s Sustainability Ambassadors set up a table at all three lunches on April 22^nd to celebrate Earth Day with students and staff. This year’s focus was on REUSING. The team members made up a display of “upcycled items” including a trifold poster with ideas and many items created by the team members themselves. Students had a great time coming up and looking at everyday household items that were no longer in use being used for another purpose, rather than ending up in a landfill! Some items included a clock made from an old LP record, a calendar from a CD jewel case, bottle cap magnets and gift tags, earrings from old cards and vacation jar from an old pickle jar. The biggest hit, however, was the fish tank from an old coffee pot! About 100 students came by and filled out Earth Day pledges to reduce, reuse and recycle and were entered in drawings for prizes each lunch, as well! All in all, it was a successful and fun event!

Thanks so much to Mrs. McHenry, Green Team Leader at TJHS for this post!