Earhart students read haikus during the school's dedication.

Earhart dedicates its new school
Earhart Environmental Magnet officially dedicated its new environmentally conscious school building on Earth Day, April 22. Students, family and community members came to tour the new school building, which opened to students in November. During a brief presentation, principal Chris Waterbury thanked the community for supporting the school. Students read haikus they had written about the earth and the school's musical Bucket Brigade performed a couple of songs to celebrate the new Earhart.

Waterbury said the new building supports the school's mission of preserving the environment. The new building has large windows for natural lighting, automatic lights and temperature gauges that turn off lights and adjust room temperatures when sensors show the rooms are empty. The school also has an environmental learning lab, recycling alcoves in the school, a neighborhood recycling center and many places outdoors for learning opportunities. 

Earhart's Bucket Brigade performs during the school's dedication. Photos by Susan Arensman

Board of Education President Lynn Rogers told parents that with there will be brand-new elementary schools built with the $370 million bond issue and many of the same environmental features that were constructed with Earhart will be duplicated at those schools.

Students moved into the new Earhart school on November 12. The old building was torn down to make way for more outdoor learning opportunities.




April 27, 2009