Page 115 - FY21 Wellness Promotion Policy Annual Report

STUDENTS
Physical Education
& Physical Activity Environment &
Nutrition
Physical Environment EMPLOYEES Engagement Family Physical COORDINATING POLICY, PROCESS, AND PRACTICE Counseling, Social & FAMILIES
Community
Involvement
Services
Psychological
Services
HEALTHY SAFE
CHALLENGED SUPPORTED ENGAGED
Social &
Environment
Emotional
Employee IMPROVING LEARNING AND HEALTH Health Climate
Wellness Education
Health
Services
COMMUNITY
Water Bottle Refilling Stations
In support of the District’s Waste Reduction, Materials Reuse and Recycling Policy (7.197), ECS encourages the
use of reusable water bottles and water bottle refilling stations. The refill stations offer an alternative to using
single-use plastic bottles. The stations are equipped with an automatic counter to calculate how many plastic
water bottles are eliminated from the waste stream, all while encouraging healthy hydration. Refill stations
have a touchless option, which helps to prevent the spread of germs.
ECS purchased seven (7) water bottle refilling stations during the 2020-2021 school year with intent to install
them in District schools. Keep Palm Beach County Beautiful donated four (4) water refilling stations to two
Title 1 schools. ECS partnered with Pollution Prevention Coalition of Palm Beach County to provide one water
bottle refilling station as a prize in their annual Pollution Prevention Video Contest.

To further create awareness about sustainability and the environmental
impact of single use plastics, ECS partnered with Surface 71, a student-led
non-profit organization, and Loggerhead Marinelife Center to celebrate
Earth Month at a local elementary school that is a hurricane shelter. ECS
provided and installed two (2) water bottle refilling stations in collaboration
with the Maintenance & Plant Operations Department (M&PO). Surface 71
developed an educational video to encourage students to take charge and
reduce plastic waste in their everyday lives. Loggerhead Marinelife Center
provided a reusable water bottle for every student at the school and Surface
71 provided a water bottle for each staff member. The District’s Teaching
and Learning Department provided the school with STEM lessons on water Bethune Elementary School and
conservation to enhance classroom instruction on topics of sustainability. Loggerhead Marinelife Center staff

FL Green District Awards

The Florida Department of Education and the Florida Green Schools
Network recognizes school district efforts to reduce environmental
impacts and costs, improve the health and wellness of students and
staff, and provide effective environmental and sustainability education.
In FY21, The School District of Palm Beach County was awarded Gold
level in the Florida Green District program. The District’s Environmental
and Conservation Services Department leads the School Sustainability
initiative and collaborated with several other departments, including
Teaching and Learning, School Food Service, and Maintenance and
Plant Operations to gather data for the FY21 application. The Gold
level is the highest ranking earned and is awarded to Districts that
work to conserve natural resources, promote sustainability, and
reduce operating costs. The District will be recognized during a virtual
ceremony in September 2021.

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