Environmental Sustainability Council

Environmental Sustainability Council Education Task Group Meeting Mary Riley Styles Library, Lower Level Conference Room Monday, February 13, 2023, 6:30PM – 7:30PM Attendance: • Tina Ho, Operation EarthWatch (OpEW) Program Coordinator • Paula Conrad, OpEW Saint James School Coordinator • Connie Rydberg, OpEW Oak Street School Coordinator/Program Support • Sarah Beaman-Bayldon, OpEW Oak Street School Coordinator/Program Support • Susan Rotherham, Meridian High School SCA Environmental Committee • Ariana Lehrer, Meridian High School SCA Environmental Committee Business: • Participant list o Working to compile full participation list (MD, OS, SJ, Homeschool) from electronic and hard-copy submittals o Plan to reach out to parents/students who have not completed all months to encourage participation • Activity sheets o November through February activity sheets released; promoted via Morning Announcements and MRS Library 4th Wednesdays; plan to also email copies to established participants since not printing and distributing at schools for remainder of year • Events and collaboration opportunities o 4th Wednesdays @ 4:00PM – MRS Library ▪ Opportunity to complete current and previous activity sheets o Student Government Environmental Committee ▪ Sarah Rotherham and Ariana Lehrer represented the Meridian High School SCA Environmental Committee to offer support and collaboration with OpEW ▪ Willing to assist with program and administrative tasks, 30th anniversary celebration, development of workshops, etc. ▪ Sarah and Ariana to develop a gardening workshop for the March activity sheet ▪ Populate Excel activity tracking sheet o Memorial Day Parade ▪ Submit parade entry form by March 17, 2023 ▪ Request OpEW be placed towards beginning of parade and ahead of motorized vehicles o Bike Falls Church ▪ Opportunity to collaborate BTWD (https://www.biketoworkmetrodc.org/) on May 19, 2023, which will occur outside of our normal program schedule  o Community Project Service Panel ▪ Opportunity to speak on panel at MEH Middle School to share mission of OpEW and how 8th graders can get involved o 30 Anniversary th ▪ To be held in May at same time as end of year recognition and celebration event, and t-shirt distribution/announcement of design winners • Sponsorships o Funds from three sponsors received to date o Need to identify additional sponsors in order to financially maintain program (Harvey’s? Browns Hardware?) o Pursue opportunity to partner with a restaurant to receive percentage of proceeds o Sarah to follow-up with sponsors who have not responded • T-shirt design contest o T-shirt designs judged and team selected several to combine into one design (pending review of one missing design submittal) o Connie to manage t-shirt design and printing process; order t-shirts • Recognition ceremonies o Need to coordinate with each school to recognize 2022-23 participants and ‘lifers’ Meeting adjourned at 7:30PM Minutes submitted by Tina Ho Minutes approved by