Google Classroom
In 2018, Poly made a large shift from typically paper-only classrooms to using Google Classroom. Google Classroom is an online portal through which teachers can both assign and accept assignments, which is more sustainable than consistently using paper. In the past year, there has been a push from students and staff for more teachers to incorporate the platform into their classroom; now, almost all use it instead of paper.
Below are the request email sent to all Poly staff and the results from the requested Google Forms survey from the email created by the Poly Environmental Club and the Poly Green Team sent to all teachers at Poly asking them about their energy saving and waste reduction habits. All of the highlighted teachers answered that they either sometimes, most of the time, or always now use Google Classroom when they would have used paper in the past.
Below are the request email sent to all Poly staff and the results from the requested Google Forms survey from the email created by the Poly Environmental Club and the Poly Green Team sent to all teachers at Poly asking them about their energy saving and waste reduction habits. All of the highlighted teachers answered that they either sometimes, most of the time, or always now use Google Classroom when they would have used paper in the past.
For example, below is what a typical student's Google Classroom home page looks like. Considering the student has seven classes, you can see that most classes have made the transition from paper to digital. In this example, the student has several assignments due to be completed, submitted, and graded digitally.
On March 4, 2020, Ms. Frasier and Mr. Todaro led a professional development to all Poly staff on how to use google classroom. Most teachers are already using google classroom. But this PD helped insure that 100% of the staff are aware of the school's push to reduce the use of paper.
Indoor Plants
In the 2019-2020 school year, staff members filled the school building with plants. These beautiful indoor plants fill classrooms and hallways providing better air quality and a healthier physical and mental school environment for students and staff members. Ms. Toni Johnson, who serves on our Green Team as our facility personnel representative, is committed to making sure these plants thrive. Below are just a few of the plants now displayed at Poly. In 2017, student leaders from the Environmental Club enrolled Poly in a green wall contest and thanks to both student and staff support, Poly won a green wall! Mr. Wishart and Mr. Wolfe helped make the wall come to Poly on February, 6, 2020.
Biggest Loser
Over the past several years, the staff at Poly have a Biggest Loser Weight Loss Challenge. Staff are encouraged to eat healthy and complete exercise. The Aquaponics Club welcomes the staff to come forage from their plants to use in their salads. Staff who participate admit that they eat more plant based foods during this challenge.