Engagement

TAKE ACTION

• BPS GREEN SCHOOLS

  For Teachers & Students:

  Visit our Green Your School page for BPS-specific and recommended policies, actions, and resources. Our focus areas are:

  • Climate & Energy
  • Curriculum
  • Engagement
  • Environmental Justice
  • Healthy School Environment
  • Outdoor Education
  • Transportation
  • Water
  • Zero Waste

  Interested in representing your school through a sustainability leadership role? Fill out the BPS Healthy & Sustainable Schools Interest Form. Opportunities include:

  • School Zero Waste Coordinator
  • Member of the district Healthy School Environment Committee, a sub-committee of the District Wellness Council

  For Students:

  Youth on Board co-administers the Boston Student Advisory Council (BSAC) with the BPS Office of Engagement. BSAC is a citywide body of elected student leaders representing most BPS high schools. BSAC organizers work to identify and address pertinent student issues, thereby putting students at the center of the decisions that affect them the most. BSAC acts as the student union of the district, leading organizing efforts, forging relationships with district and city-leaders, impacting policy change, and transforming school culture across the board.

  BSAC began work around climate and environmental justice after students were moved and angered by the disproportionate impact climate change has, and will have, on young people, people of color, and low-income communities. Collaborate with Boston Student Advisory Council by using the new Climate Curriculum, advocating for solar panels on school buildings, or leading a Meatless Mondays or Power Down Fridays campaign. Contact BSAC Student Engagement Manager Maria Ortiz at mortiz@bostonpublicschools.org to connect.

• BPS SCHOOL VOLUNTEER PROJECTS: REQUIREMENTS

  Each year, thousands of volunteers dedicate time and resources to making Boston Public Schools healthier and more sustainable places to learn, and BPS is truly grateful for the support of volunteers.

  If you or your group is interested in leading a volunteer project at a Boston Public School, please refer to the following steps and resources for ensuring a safe and successful volunteer project.

  Are you a school in need of volunteers? Contact the BPS Office of External Affairs to be matched with volunteer groups. 

  Are you a volunteer or volunteer group interested in supporting BPS schools? Register with the BPS Office of External Affairs to be matched with a school.

  Required Project Forms

  All volunteer projects taking place at Boston Public Schools must have support from the school leadership, sign-off from BPS Facilities Management, and a project organizer assigned to be onsite during the project.

  Before beginning a volunteer project, the project organizer must submit all forms found in the Superintendent Circular FMT-17 Facilities Management Volunteer Projects to BPS Facilities Management. Volunteer projects cannot be approved if any forms are missing.

  1. Review circular.
  2. Complete Boston Public Schools Facilities Management Volunteer Project Permit
  3. Complete Boston Public Schools Facilities Management Permit Request
  4. Review of Terms & Conditions
  5. Review of Allowable and Non-Allowable Projects
  6. Complete Volunteer Release of Liability and Indemnity Contract- every volunteer must sign

  All completed forms must be sent to Maria Lew-Houston, mlewhouston@bostonpublicschools.org.

  For more information, contact:
  Maria Lew-Houston
  Facilities Management Mailing
  1216 Dorchester Avenue, Boston, MA 02125
  617-635-9126
  mlewhouston@bostonpublicschools.org

• BLS YOUTH CLIMATE ACTION NETWORK (YouthCAN)

  The Boston Latin School Youth Climate Action Network is an after-school environmental club comprised of middle and high school students at BLS. YouthCAN seeks to address the problem of global climate change in our communities and beyond and to promote education for sustainability. 

  YouthCAN does extensive educational outreach, maintains numerous community partnerships, and organizes free events that serve dozens of schools and community organizations every year. YouthCAN’s biggest event is their annual Climate Summit, held each May, free and open to students across the state.

  Interested in starting a similar student organization at your school? Contact Katherine Walsh, kwalsh4@bostonpublicschools.org or 617-635-9576.

• CENTER FOR GREEN SCHOOLS

  Check out the Center for Green School’s green school programs or the Every School Can Be A Green School: Getting Started Checklist. Visit the Center’s resources page for a full list of research papers, case studies, and green school reports.

• GREEN STRIDES

  Green Strides: Tools for greening your school, brought to you by the U.S. Department of Education

• LEXUS ECO CHALLENGE

  In support of the United Nations Sustainable Development Agenda, each year, the Lexus Eco Challenge invites students in grades 6-12 to tackle environmental issues in their communities, create and submit their action plans and results, and compete nationally for a total of $500,000 in grants and scholarships. (For inspiration, Boston Latin School YouthCAN is a multi-time winner.)

  Register a team.

• MassDEP's THE GREEN TEAM

  Register your school for The Green Team, an interactive educational program that empowers students and teachers to help the environment through waste reduction, recycling, composting, energy conservation and pollution prevention. Participating classes receive certificates of recognition and are eligible to win awards. In 2017-2018, 25 BPS schools registered as Green Team schools. (Registration is required annually.)

• PROJECT GREEN SCHOOLS

  Project Green Schools is finding and supporting tomorrow’s environmental leaders today.

  MISSION: Developing the next generation of environmental leaders through education, project-based learning and community service. 

  BELIEFS: Students must be engaged at the intersection of science, technology, engineering and math (STEM), energy, environment and public health to develop: sustainable solutions, employability, college and career readiness knowledge and skills.