As Jefferson Elementary School’s recycling monitor, 5th-grader Brandon Woo goes to each classroom before lunch to gather discarded paper for the blue recycling bin in the schoolyard.
Although he sometimes has to make several trips back and forth, Woo, 11, says he enjoys doing his job. “I feel I’m doing my part in helping our environment.”
Woo is just one of 36 students from 14 San Francisco schools who will be presented with glass plaques, designed by Imani Chapman and created by Another Dancing Bear Productions, for their work in Green Science. The ceremony will take place May 17 at the 4th Annual Asian Heritage Street Celebration (AHSC), at 11 a.m. on the Peace Plaza Stage. Former interim superintendent Gwen Chan and Kimochi, Inc’s executive director Steve Nakajo will co-emcee the event that will feature several science projects on display.
The ceremony is part of the annual SFUSD Student Awards Program that the AHSC has hosted since its inception, to recognize the accomplishments of students who are of Asian Pacific Islander heritage in categories not typically celebrated. In the past, students have been honored for community service, athletics, and visual and performing arts. Last year, 24 schools and over 50 students participated.
This year, the AHSC and the Association of Asian American Administrators selected the theme of innovative and environmentally conscious ideas about “green” science, including recycling, conservation, or renewable energy practices.
“We want to teach kids the importance of preserving the Earth at an early age, and this topic is something that everyone can relate to and is community friendly,” explains Rebecca Ja, secretary of the Association of Asian American Administrators and a site manager at Jefferson PreK Child Development Center.
The AHSC invited all San Francisco elementary, middle, and high schools to nominate at least two students.
Frank McCoppin Elementary School selected Jessica Leung, 6, for two handwritten and illustrated stories about the effects of pollution on the environment.
“Jessica is responsible, resourceful, and always enthusiastic about learning,” shares her teacher Bennett Lee.
Spring Valley Science School principal Lonnie Chin chose to honor her whole school for their year-round work in composting and recycling. Chin proudly notes that students also have been learning about energy conservation, thanks to PG&E.
Abraham Lincoln High School senior Wayne Chau, 17, was selected for his work with Land’s End Stewardship, where he was able to help restore native coastal plant life.
Several classes from Jose Ortega Elementary School will receive recognition for their research on birds and nature conservation activities and lessons.
Madeline Inouye, 12, says being part of the recycling club has taught her how to reuse, recycle and reduce, and has inspired her to think of creative ways to do this in her everyday life.
“I see a second life to things that I normally might want to throw away now,” says Inouye, a 7th-grader at Herbert Hoover Middle School. “I feel honored to be selected for this award; it makes me feel that what I do in recycling club is important.”
For Inouye’s schoolmate Elana Rapp, 12, who is Chinese and Jewish, green science is important because humans have been “careless” with the Earth.
“Now, as we see the effects and problems, it is more important than ever to protect our fragile home planet,” she said.
Irene Aranya and Bradford Low contributed to this report.
Green Science School Awards List
Abraham Lincoln High School
Principal: Ronald Y.K. Pang
Honoree: Wayne Chau
Alice Fong Yu Alternative School
Principal: Liana Szeto
Teacher/Coordinator: Elaine Tam
Honoree: Preston Leung
Frank McCoppin Elementary School
Principal: Bennett Lee
Honoree: Jessica Leung
George Washington High School
Principal: Ericka Lovrin
Honorees: Hesther Fan, Tina Luong
Herbert Hoover Middle School
Principal: Judy K. Dong
Teacher/Coordinator: Janet Cunningham
Honorees: Madeline Inouye, Elana Rapp
Independence High School
Principal: Jennie Chin-Low
Honorees: Keegan Kaori Da Quan, Elaine Leung, Donald Gog-Kang Lew
Jefferson Elementary School
Principal: Victor Tam
Honorees: Brandon Woo, Michael Mew
Jose Ortega School
Principal: Jolynn Washington
Teacher/Coordinator: Clara Kwan
Honorees: Rooms 14, 202, and 206; Mr. Strohm’s and Mrs. Chazanoff’s classes
Lawton Alternative School
Principal: Beverly Kong
Honorees: Ms. Debra Netkin’s First Grade Class, Debra Gordenev
Log Cabin Ranch School
Principal: Kevin Kerr
Teacher/Coordinator: Sonja Taylor
Honoree: Jeffrey Hee
Lowell High School
Principal: Andrew Ishibashi
Teacher/Coordinator: Katherine Melvin
Honorees: Grace Koyama, Daniel Lam, Nathaniel Lee, Michelle Mo, Soraya Okuda, Ravi Patel, Grace Tang, Seth Wong, Xiao Xhu, Stephanie Yee
Sheridan Elementary School
Principal: NurJehan Khalique
Teacher/Coordinator: Jing Wen
Honoree: Room 212
Spring Valley Science School
Principal: Lonnie Chin
Honoree: Spring Valley Science School
Sunset Elementary School
Principal: Sophie Lee
Honorees: Danielle Ho-Vuong, Thomas Eng, Christopher Lew, Thomas Khaw