Magothy Cooperative Preschool has practiced solid waste reduction as a matter of protocol. We are certified through the Maryland Department of Education as a non-public school and as an early childhood development center, so we are bound by the requirements of our governing body, the Anne Arundel County Office of Childcare. We were granted permission to use washable cleaning rags instead of paper towels and modifications to our cleaning solutions, as shown in Schoolwide Environmental Behavior Changes. We continue to invent ways to Green our school within our guidelines and are happy with our best management practices so far.
Reduction of Paper Usage: To reduce the amount of worksheets used by our students, they utilize washable markers on laminated paper. We also look for other ways to practice handwriting, such as writing in dirt or shaving cream.
Reduction of Paper Usage: To reduce the amount of worksheets used by our students, they utilize washable markers on laminated paper. We also look for other ways to practice handwriting, such as writing in dirt or shaving cream.
Reduction of Waste: We monitor our students' snack time and lunchtime to educate them on reducing food waste and teaching them to recycle appropriately. We made fish-printed cloth napkins with our students, reducing napkin waste in lunches. In fall 2018 we reused cloth napkins for our project that were donated after a large wedding.
At each snack time and meal, students compost their leftovers in the outdoor compost bin or the indoor vermicomposting bin, as is noted in Schoolwide Environmental Behavior Changes. We encourage families to bring in non-packaged snacks and celebrate Waste-Free Wednesdays and Trash-Free Tuesdays.
At each snack time and meal, students compost their leftovers in the outdoor compost bin or the indoor vermicomposting bin, as is noted in Schoolwide Environmental Behavior Changes. We encourage families to bring in non-packaged snacks and celebrate Waste-Free Wednesdays and Trash-Free Tuesdays.
Reuse of Materials: We routinely borrow library books instead of buying more of our own. We also built a 'Little Free Library' in our garden for families to borrow and share books. We make art of recycled materials and found objects, reducing the need to buy "craft materials". We have a scrap paper bin for reuse and eventually recycling. The vast majority of our school’s toys and classroom manipulatives were pre-owned by other families. We even make our own play dough!
Recycling of Materials: We recycle in the classroom and also at all of our school events. We collect the following items for recycling: paper, plastic, glass, and aluminum. We collect and recycle used markers, crayons, and glue sticks.