National Search for Sustainable and Eco-friendly Schools
Project ONE EARTH
San Agustin Elementary School advocates the vision and mission of sustaining and maintaining Eco-friendly Environment in compliance with RA 9512 or the National Environment Awareness and Education Act of 2008. School’s greening flagship program, ONE EARTH, highlights the different activities that lead to attaining the goal of being the Division Model of Sustainable and Eco-Friendly School.
The main objectives of Project ONE EARTH are the following:
Empower stakeholders on the importance of maintaining the Clean and Green Advocacy
Adopt updated methodologies in Waste Management Program
Restore quality and keep high standards in Canteen Management
Transfer ideas and information about the beneficial attributes in eating nutritious food
Heighten awareness on School Risk Reduction Program
Through the continuous effort and support of the different stakeholders, the program was implemented and sustained for almost four years. Among the highlights of Project ONE EARTH are the following program under each COREs.
CORE 1: Toxic Reduction, Indoor and Outdoor Air Quality and Acoustical Performance
The school assures that the indoor and outdoor environment are safe and free from toxic materials. The classrooms were restructured and remodeled for proper indoor air quality, lighting and thermal comfort. Rain collectors were already installed in four buildings for water conservation. Several practices were done to promote and maintain energy consumption such as installation of led lights and solar panels. Promotion of Health and Sanitation in and outside the schools are evident through installation of signage and through wide variety of the selection of food and drinks offered in the canteen and feeding activities. Nutrition lectures and cooking demonstration are conducted for both pupils and parents to create awareness in the importance of proper food diet.
SCHOOL FEEDING PROGRAM
General Objectives:
Facilitate and furnish accurate report on the nutritional status of pupils and other
related concerns
Effectively monitor and supervise the supplementary feeding of severely and wasted children to improve their nutritional status
Educate and encourage pupils to have a good eating habits and daily exercise.
Develop and provide nutritious food menu and food plan for the pupils
CORE 2: Resources Sustainability
ECO-SAVERS PROGRAM
General Objectives:
1. Promote urban gardening, hydroponics and aquaponics;
2. Initiate on zero-waste management;
3. Promote health awareness thru the utilization of vegetables and fruits available in the school;
4. Utilize pupils in maintaining the clean and green project
To help the community within the vicinity of the school reduce the volume of wastes
production, the Eco-Savers Club was established under CORE 2. Waste segregation and reduction in and outside the classroom were done to practice the routine and discipline of pupils in proper waste disposal. School canteen and feeding waste materials are collected and placed in compost for the production of fertilizers to improve soil composition of the Gulayan Garden. The MRF or Materials Recovery Facility of the school is continuously utilized and maintained to recover waste materials to develop and produce new decorative products, learning materials, vegetable pots, and display materials. These activities help in lessening the volume of garbage in the school.
CORE 3: Green Healthy Space
Projects such as NGP-Gulayan sa Paaralan encourages learners to practice planting and maintaining native crops and endemic vegetables. The school was recognized as the Division Leader in the implementation of Project Lighthouse. The school hosted and led the planting and seed propagation of endemic vegetables. Different areas around the school such as backyard, walls, façade, window grills and plant boxes around buildings were planted with different vegetables. Mushroom Cultivation House was possible through the efforts of the Kalikasan Pupil Ambassadors. Hydroponics, Aquaponics, Hito Culture, Poultry Raising, Seed Banks, Seed Beds, Kitchen Garden, Vermiculture, and Fruit-Bearing Trees were the highlights of school’s NGP-Gulayan sa Paaralan. For three consecutive years the school’s Gulayan sa Paaralan project has been given division recognition and citation.
One of the best practices of the school is the canteen operation and management. Division awardee of Best Managed Canteen, SAES excels in the operation and delivering quality services to its learners. School Canteen offers wide selection of foods approved by the DOH at reasonable price. Also the cooked foods were added with harvested crops and vegetables from the school Gulayan Garden to assure the nutrient value of the food. The canteen and feeding staff are required to have health working permit to assure the healthy environment of canteen and feeding facility.
CANTEEN MANAGEMENT
General Objectives:
Facilitate and monitor the preparation and handling foods to maintain its safety, quality,
and nutritious value;
Offer nutritious food products to serve as avenue to improve the nutritional status of the stakeholders;
Operate and implement strictly adherence to the DEPED issued guidelines on canteen management;
Disseminate information on the good eating habits and awareness on nutritional
value of foods
CORE 4: Health and Wellness
The school recognizes the importance of health and wellness in the overall appeal of having an eco-friendly and sustainable environment. Through Project SMILE, different activities were spearheaded to promote, provide and maintain a safe friendly teaching and learning environment for the pupils, teachers and school staff. Series of physical activities were planned and done for both pupils and parents to raise awareness on the importance of physical and mental health. Zumba, Funny Shows, Costume Party Masquerades, Laro ng Lahi, Kinder Family Day, Bowling Tournament, Museums and Leisure Park Tours, and Massage Therapy Day were among the activities that helped teachers and pupils relaxed and balance the load of working and having leisure times.
GAD activities were also highlighted and given emphasis in the planning of school calendar of activities. School invited expert resource speakers and facilitators to help teachers in workshop, seminars and tours. Teachers have always been updated on current trends of the society on the issue of gender equality.
CORE 5: Environmental Literacy
To allow pupils to learn and develop new environmental solutions, the school launched the search for “Kalikasan Ambassadors.” For five consecutive years, the school has been holding a pageant with a cause that teach learners to raise awareness on conserving and preserving the environment. Series of activities such as tree planting, feeding program, wellness, greening advocacy campaign were among their preparations before the final event. These practices help the learners to deepen their acceptance and valuing of the pageant. Hence, it develops their self-confidence, self-esteem, assertiveness and social responsibilities. The proceeds of this program finance and manage projects such as installation of solar panels, building of Mushroom Cultivation House, provision of ICT equipment, landscaping of school façade and garden, provision for garden tools and seedlings of endemic vegetables for Project Lighthouse.
The presence of eco-groups such as YES-O, Eco-Savers Club, Sciwizard and Supreme Pupil Government encourage collaboration and give opportunity to play their role and responsibility in saving the environment.
In October 2018, during the celebration of World Teachers ‘Day, the school launched its first search for Gurong Kalikasan 2018. This was the counterpart of the pupil search for Kalikasan Ambassadors. The concept of this competition is the teachers’ environmental advocacy that will be implemented in the school to train learners on the value of waste management, water and energy conservation, pollution prevention, and greening program.
CORE 6: Preparedness, Safety and Security
Through the partnership with the Disaster Risk Reduction Management Committee of the local government several preparations and training were conducted for the parents, pupils and teachers. Basic first-aid and standard operating procedures during disasters were imparted as part of school’s preparation and risk prevention for disaster. Installation of fire alarms, emergency lights, fire extinguishers, signage of evacuation plan were done to keep the school community reminded on the SOPs. Participation in the division and metro wide drills were conducted. Also the school allotted a headquarters and a corner for the disaster first-aid kits and emergency paraphernalia for easy access.
CORE 7: Linkages and Networks
For all the programs mentioned above be possible and sustainable, the support and effort of the stakeholders were given due recognition and acknowledgement. The school received several citations in Brigada Eskwela because of the untiring support coming from its stakeholders. In 2016, the school was awarded 3rd Best Implementer, 1st Best Implementer in 2017 and 2nd Best Implementer in 2018 all in the Division level. All these citations were made possible because of the support of the stakeholders and volunteers. Among the school major stakeholders were: Save the Children, Rotary Club Parañaque East, Meralco Foundation, San Agustin Parish, Dating Daan Fellowship, Latter Day Saints, Local Government of Parañaque, Maynilad, Sipag Villar, SAES Alumni, and General Parent-Teacher Association.
SAES: BECOMING AN ECO-FRIENDLY SCHOOL
Jerlito M. Taylo
WASTE MANAGEMENT
Pupils were trained to practice zero-waste inside the classroom. They were asked to bring their own spoon, fork, and food receptacles. Canteen used recyclable plates and glasses for the cook foods. The MRF caters the waste inside the school and converts the collected materials into savings or new recycled products.
PAPER CONSERVATION
Eco-Savers Club collects all used papers and turned into MRF for school project consumption or exchange into savings. Offices are using the back page of used papers in printing memos and other internal communication to save papers. Paperlesstechnique is being utilized in teachers’ preparation of lesson logs, quizzes and examinations and also in archiving the school documents and reports. The utilization of DEPED email accounts and Google Drive helps in implementing paperless works.
ELECTRICITY CONSERVATION
Installation of Solar Panels in Main Building to power up the lights in the hallways. All the incandescent bulbs are being replaced by led lights. To remind teachers and pupils in conserving energy, signage is posted near the switches. Classrooms are being converted to Go Green Rooms by removing curtains and allowing natural light and air to get inside the rooms.
WATER CONSERVATION
Four rain collectors are installed to gather water for toilet cleaning consumption. Handwashing facilities are placed in the different areas of the school to accommodate all the pupils. Faucets and water pipes are checked regularly by the school staff.
POLLUTION PREVENTION
Motorcycles and school vehicles have designated areas to reduce emissions and smoke. “No Smoking Policy” is “strictly implemented inside the school. Planting and gardening in all possible areas help reduce pollution.
GREENING PROGRAM
Through Project Lighthouse, different endemic vegetables are planted around the school. These plants are labeled for the information background of each species of plants. Crop Museum and Kitchen Garden are also available to propagate seedlings of endemic vegetables. Hydroponics and aquaponics are available for planting crops.