School Connections is a Green Newton group created in September 2017.

Green Newton School Connections is a collaborative group of students, families, educators and community members. We aim to build a just, healthy, sustainable and climate-resilient community. We aspire to help our schools educate students and empower them to be climate advocates and sustainability leaders.

Some of our initiatives include:

• Partnering with NPS in the School Sustainability Working Group (SSWG)
• Sharing of past and current sustainability efforts at individual schools
• Helping schools to set up Green Teams
• Developing and sharing recycling signage for schools, in partnership with Newton Sustainable Materials Management division
• Advocating for the hiring of a sustainability coordinator at NPS: a dedicated staff person to plan and implement consistent waste management throughout the school district
• Hosting discussions with stakeholders from the city government and elected officials
• Evaluating the possibility of implementing a Food Recovery Program in Newton school cafeterias
• Supporting renewable energy in schools, including solar panels
• Supporting sustainable and healthy transportation in the district, including: walking, biking and increasing bus ridership; no idling around schools; electric school buses 
• Advocating for Climate Education from K-12

Parents, students, educators, and Newton citizens and friends, all are invited to be part of our group. Just come to one of our meetings or events, or contact us at [email protected] for more information.

Together we are building a more sustainable school community in Newton.

NEWSLETTER ARCHIVE                MEETING MINUTES

About this website

Joana Canedo, Co-Chair of GN School Connections, manages the School Connections website and edits its newsletter. Joana is a Newton North parent. If you have any questions, please contact [email protected].

Deanna Hoffman is the other Co-Chair of Green Newton School Connections. Deanna is a parent of two children at Burr School as well as an experienced science educator and the founder of Meet Me on Planet 3. She  can also be reached at [email protected].