Sunset Elementary

By Stephanie Ghertner

As Principal Sophie Lee led me through the halls of Sunset Elementary, I was overwhelmed by the school’s dynamism. Creativity literally lines the walls. Student body election posters, colorful El Día de los Muertos masks, and bright bulletin boards help provide a bright and active climate for learning. Principal Lee, staff, teachers, parents, and students have created a diverse community that provides countless educational opportunities for children. After my visit, I was ready to enroll as the world’s oldest third grader.

Sunset Elementary School, located in San Francisco’s Sunset District, is remarkable for a number of reasons. First, there’s the number of awards and honors (2007 National Blue Ribbon Award Nominee, 2006 California Distinguished School Award, several Title I Academic Achievement Awards) it has received – especially impressive given the fact that the school has only been in existence for a little over a decade. Then, there’s the Caring School Community Program, a plan that creates a climate of caring by deepening connections between students, teachers, and parents through class meetings and other activities. And in a time when many schools are cutting their arts programs, Sunset Elementary remains loyal to its visual and performing arts program, where children can embrace theater and visual arts, instrumental and choral music. Not to mention, the library is stocked with over 5,000 books; new computers bring learning to life; enrichment programs and extracurricular activities abound; and the list goes on and on.

One of the school’s most inspiring programs is actually one that was non-existent in my elementary school—and most educational institutions—thirty years ago: Sunset Elementary School’s Greening Projects. True, my alma mater had a science class, but not an on-site garden where strawberries, lettuce, and lavender are nurtured or an entire week dedicated to the importance of water. Environmental science in my day was known as “geology,” and it wasn’t so much fun (for me). Today, environmental science is less about rocks and more about livelihood and conservation. At Sunset Elementary, environmental science is interwoven into the curriculum and community in a variety of interesting and educational ways.

A sampling of Sunset Elementary School’s Greening Projects follows:

· Environmental Science Water Week

The environmental science-themed Water Week is focused on all aspects of water, and at the end of the week, teachers, parents, volunteers, and local community-based organizations offer students an afternoon of hands-on water and science activities at a big environmental fair.

· Family Projects Fair

Students are involved in class and family projects focused on the scientific method of inquiry that culminate in an annual Family Projects Fair of interactive displays.

· Outdoor Science

The curriculum fosters ecological awareness, land stewardship, and greening efforts, and student activities include nature study, schoolyard gardening, and science lessons.

· Green Schoolyard Project

Sunset Elementary recently modernized and renovated its buildings and greened the school grounds.

· Garden Days

The school celebrated its first Garden Day in January 2003 and continues to host Saturday Garden Days when staff, parents, and children beautify the eleven outdoor gardens that include herbs, native plants, vegetables, and fruit trees.

· Recycling and Composting

Sunset Elementary has an extensive recycling and composting program with recycling and composting bins throughout the school.

In addition to the aforementioned activities and numerous field trips, Sunset Elementary is also the recipient of a PG&E Solar Schools Grant. Earlier this year, a 1kW photovoltaic system was installed in the school’s garden to generate electricity and promote renewable energy. Visible from the street, this “solar-on-a-stick” is a terrific way for kids (and adults) to learn about solar and science. The photovoltaic system and National Energy Education Development (NEED) curriculum, also supported by the PG&E Solar Schools Program, enhance the school’s Outdoor Science Program by providing a learning resource for energy production and conservation strategies.

Although it would be difficult to attribute Sunset Elementary School’s rising enrollment numbers and test scores to its superb environmental program alone, one can’t help but believe that the lesson of sustainability is a contributing factor in the school’s success. By engaging students, teachers, and parents in such activities, Sunset Elementary School is teaching children the essential lesson of responsibility, as individuals in their community and as citizens of a larger world.