Our entry in the San Jose State Garrett Morgan Sustainable Transportation competition took most of our time and attention this year. The guiding questions for our transportation project were “How do 1900 students commute to Thornton each day?” and “Are these methods safe and sustainable?” We conducted a transportation audit, sent out a survey to the Thornton community, and worked to reduce the number of cars coming onto campus by participating in the Alameda County Safe Routes to School Golden Sneaker contest. Before the contest we sent an email to parents and guardians to encourage them to drop off students a half mile from campus so students can walk the rest of the way. We successfully completed and submitted our transportation project. 

Our video submission can be viewed at:  E & S Sustainable Transportation Competition Entry 

Green waste separation took place twice a week during Monday and Thursday Flex periods. Students cleaned out the trash from the green bins and recovered organic waste from the trash and recycling bins. Our 6-yard green dumpster was emptied twice a week. We diverted a total of 383 bags of green waste for composting.

Check out our green waste separation video!  Put Your Food Scraps in the Green 

The blue recycling bins in every classroom and work area were serviced once a week by students during the Wednesday Flex period throughout the school year.

Bins for batteries and ink cartridges were placed in all of the teacher work areas and were the contents taken to Staples and Dale Hardware for recycling. 35 ink cartridges and 2 bags of batteries were recycled in one semester.