Harman visits Grand View
Congresswoman Jane Harman (D-Venice) checks out the healthy lunches Grand View Elementary School kids are eating during a visit Monday. Photo by Andrea Ruse
by Andrea Ruse
Teachers and students at Grand View Elementary welcomed Congresswoman Jane Harman (D-Venice) Monday. The South Bay Representative came to see Manhattan Beach Unified School District’s Grades of Green program.
Volunteers from the environmental education program led the representative of California’s 36th District on a tour of the campus, pointing out features that teach kids about conservation.
They included recycling bins, composting heaps and a veggie garden.
“The fact that the program gained the attention of Harman is fantastic,” Councilmember Portia Cohen said. “Especially since the mothers who started the program want to roll it out statewide and then nationwide. It’s really important for them to get exposure at the state level.”
Through Grades of Green, students district wide engage in three “hands-on, minds-on” courses — on composting, water sheds and carbon footprint reduction — throughout the school year. Students at Grand View regularly maintain the compost heap and the vegetable garden it nourishes.
"It’s not even smelly,” Harman said of Grand View Elementary’s composting heap. Councilmembers Wayne Powell (left) and Richard Montgomery agree. Photo by Andrea Ruse
“We’re showing Jane Harman recycling and composting bins,” Cohen said. “It’s not that high-tech. We’re coming back to the methods we’ve known about for decades.”
Just before lunchtime, Harman strolled through the halls of Grand View, flanked by school district officials and City Council members.
Volunteers pointed out the earthquake preparedness kits in classrooms and the district’s commitment to using non-toxic cleaning supplies, decreasing the amount of pesticides used and encouraging the use of reusable lunch boxes.
Harman was especially impressed by the reduction in the number of trash cans needed, which has saved the district $50 per classroom annually.
“Is everyone listening up here?” Harman said to the crowd that followed her through the school.
Grades of Green was started three years ago by eco-friendly parents and became an official non-profit organization last spring.
Its success has spurred volunteers to expand the program beyond Manhattan Beach.
“I’m glad to see we’re back to making it a priority to teach young kids to incorporate healthy habits into their lifestyles,” Cohen said.
“It’s all about the kids,” volunteer Lisa Coppedge said. “I love seeing the kids embrace it. One kid asked her parents for a composter last Christmas. For me, that’s where the rubber meets the road.” ER