Engaging Every Student

The buzz before the "Trashion Show." Students from art classes at both West Linn and Wilsonville High Schools, as well as district middle schools, made fashions, such as this dress made of Tootsie Pop wrappers that were sewn together.

What do you get when you gather passionate students, teachers, administrators, and community members with a commitment to sustainability and a desire to share what they’ve learned and created? Answer: a “Sustainability Showcase,” the social and educational event of the year!

The West Linn-Wilsonville School District recently presented the event to a packed house at West Linn High School, which included a “Trashion Show” of student-created fashions made from reused items. Superintendent Roger Woehl even showed off a hat he made.

The Showcase was a smashing success and highlighted many of the core elements of our philosophy at Engaging Every Student. We have been developing a sustainability curriculum and activity books for grades preK-12 that also teach the other content area standards, so it was exciting to see some of the same kinds of ideas put into action. One of the driving goals of our company and blog is to help teachers around the world engage every student to the degree exhibited at the Showcase.

While the “Trashion Show” resulted in the most cheering and applause of the evening, as educators, we were even more excited by the quality of student projects which explained everything from the how-tos of composting to building a wind turbine. The wind turbine project, presented by Nate Snyder from Mr. Quizling’s 5th grade class at Bolton Primary School, involved Nate engineering his own turbine! Dozens of other student and class projects added to the celebration of learning. Attendees also participated in hands-on education with organizations such as Metro, which brought a demonstration worm bin. Check out more examples below and let us know what you think!

Students have fun on Michael Biancardi's energy-generating seesaw as he looks on (in blue shirt). A retired engineer from the community named Dick Bailey helped him with the design and construction.

Fifth-grader Nate Snyder talking about his wind turbine in a video presentation.

A Metro representative was on hand with hands-on projects and educational resources on everything from worm bin production to green cleaner recipes.

Mitch Halverson and Matt Pempler show off their green redesign of the 700 Building at West Linn High School. It was done as part of a school project.

This is another design for the 700 Building done using CAD software.

...and another design. Projects detailed written explanations of the "green" features of their buildings and how they saved energy and helped the environment.

A video presentation showing preschoolers at Bolton Primary School getting help building tables from reused lumber and tree stumps.

"The Irresistible Effects of Magnetism and Motion in Groundwater Remediation": one of many amazing projects showing the results of primary research.

Another outstanding project: "The Thermotolerance of Invasive Species."

There were many great graphic design projects to promote sustainable living; this one was by Rachel Tennis.

Native plants were promoted, as opposed to invasive species...all while raising some money

Everything you always wanted to know about composting but were afraid to ask.

Standing room only for the "Trashion Show"

The MCs who described the creations really added to the fun

Stacy Erickson, an amazingly energetic teacher and librarian from West-Linn High School, helped organize the event.

Science teacher Becky Farris enjoys a tasty organic treat, one of her last official acts before a well-deserved retirement.

Parents also helped out, here promoting the use of alternative transportation.

Teacher Andy West's son Fisher enjoys a scupture made of reused items.

Attendees were asked to bring sneakers for recycling

President Nancy Frazer and Board member Dave Flaming of the Prescott Bluebird Recovery Project had hands-on resources including one the bluebirds' favorite foods--mealworms! Yum.

Toys made by students at Stafford Primary School from reused items.

Information about CREST, the districts' Center for Research in Environmental Sciences & Technologies. Click the image to find out more!