Issue 64 | August 2024

Sunrise Good and Green News & Updates

Give Back to School a Splash of Green

The Good and Green Team will be at the Sunrise Back to School Splash on Saturday, August 3. Students can stop by the Good and Green Booth to decorate their own reusable pencil case and get a recycled pencil - plus we'll have reusable sandwich bags for your school lunches while supplies last.

Event Info

Nob Hill Middle School garden day volunteers help get the garden prepped and ready for the start of school.

Pass Up Plastics

Thank you to the Sunrise Dan Pearl Library for hosting the Good and Green Team on Friday, July 19 to celebrate and educate the community for Pass Up Plastics Month. Even though Plastic Free July has ended, the Pass Up Plastics pledge campaign continues - help us reach our goal of 1,000 pledges!

Take the Pledge

What Does a Native Landscape Design Look Like?

The Florida Wildflower Association is hosting a free webinar on "Designing Landscapes with Native Plants" August 21, from 2:00-3:00 pm. The featured speaker will be Stephanie Dunn, Associate at Cadence Landscape Architects

Rising Temperatures Underscore the Need for Urban Trees

Temperatures in Broward County have increased 35% in the last 20 years. According to the U.S. EPA, using trees and other plants have a natural cooling effect, making vegetation a simple and effective way to reduce heat islands.

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Start This School Year With Your Greenest Foot Forward

Bair Middle School garden club hosted a gardening day on campus on June 4th.

Sunrise Schools are Certified Wildlife Habitats!

Did You Know? City of Sunrise is a Certified Community Wildlife Habitat!

All the Broward County Public Schools in Sunrise are certified as wildlife habitats through National Wildlife Federation. The Good and Green Team works with NatureScape Broward, and Florida Ag in the Classroom to preserve habitat gardens in Sunrise public schools through our Be A Butterfly Hero program.

Bring Nature Into Your Classroom

Encourage students to participate in the Sunrise BioBlitz (offer students extra credit to report on a local species they learned about)!
Conduct simple math, reading, and other lessons outdoors.
Reform recess with simple natural materials and outdoor activities on the schoolyard.
Tell stories of summer activities using the lens of nature (whether a city park, a sidewalk ecosystem, a backyard, a beach - it can be "urban nature," neighborhood nature, not just "wilderness").
Establish classroom jobs to turn off electrical devices, take out the recycling or compost, water the plants, etc. to engage kids in green activities and teach them healthy green practices!

Before You Set Foot in the Classroom

First, look at the supplies you already have and reuse what you can!

It seems to be a little thing but even one one less thing that is thrown in the trash is a good thing.

More Ways to be Environmentally Conscious:

Buy school supplies that are made from post-consumer recycled materials or natural biodegradable materials.
Choose school supplies wrapped with minimal packaging; or buy products that come in bulk sizes. Waste from packaging accounts for more than 30% of all the waste generated each year!
If you have clothes that you’ve outgrown, but they are still in good shape, donate them.
Buying a new laptop or electronics? Make sure to e-cycle your old one. This keeps dangerous materials such as lead, cadmium, mercury, and chromium out of the environment and saves limited landfill space.
Take care of your school books. Many schools reuse text books to save money and reduce waste.
Pack your lunch in reusable containers instead of disposable ones.
Try carpooling, walking, or biking to save on gas and help reduce air pollution from vehicle exhaust.

Does Your Child's School Have A Florida Green School Designation?

The Florida Department of Environmental Protection recognizes schools that make a commitment to conserve and protect Florida's natural resources through the Green School Designation Program.

Participants who attended the "Let's Pass Up Plastics, Sunrise" presentation at Dan Pearl Library posing with the Bag Monster, and their own canvas bag which they got to decorate and take home.