Kenny Environmental Focus Meeting
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Kenny School staff, parents and neighbors discussing why improving our environment is beneficial for everyone.
Our environmental focus meeting for Kenny School on January 20, 2007 was very well attended with more than 30 people in attendance from Kenny staff, parents and administration to Kenny neighborhood residents. We focused on four main ideas and had a wonderful discussion about the prospect of Kenny becoming an environmental site. Our four main areas of discussion were the benefits to Kenny School and to Kenny community and the concerns for both. Following are the lists that people came up with during discussion.

Benefits for Kenny School and Classrooms

  • Learning is child initiated
  • Children participate more in learning
  • Discipline tends to decrease
  • Environmental career is a growing field
  • Increased enrollment
  • Will bring out the natural love of nature which is being lost to technology (7)
  • Teachers will have a more enriching environment to teach in
  • More focused learning vWill make Kenny stand out from other schools and community (15)
  • Focus and support will ensure stability
  • Exposes all children to nature's power and beauty
  • Teaches kids to observe and wonder (5)
  • Creates interest and respect for nature/living things (and this can be shared with entire family and home application) (12)
  • Increase awareness and enrollment for school
  • Increased awareness of environmental responsibility ie: recycling, composting (3)
  • Could attract talent (such as Humphry Institute interns or other up and coming geniuses, Hennepin County Master Gardeners and other talents)
  • Develops sense of history
  • Children can be a part of changing their world (10)
  • Unifies the student/parent bodiesv
  • Motivation for teachers
  • Creates fresh focus for over-stressed communityv
  • Integrates academics/environment (7)
  • Adds empowerment and hopefulness (we are fostering future environmental community leaders
  • Good Public Relations - media opportunities t show what's workingv
  • Tangible Environmental experiences can make school more memorable
  • Could lead to additional internet connections (ie. Will Stegar, etc.)
  • Grants/Partnerships for additional resources. (11)
  • ECSE cam participate (4)
  • Sense of ownership in school (5)
  • Expanded creativity (5)
  • Calming affect for students - reducing stress for all (4)
  • Students will have a more enriching environment to learn in (9)
  • Decrease water run-off and usage with rain garden (reduces overall percolation, overall city tax benefit) (5)
  • Expands the classroom beyond the four walls (3)
  • Common experience for all kids (3)
  • It's Fun
  • Motivating for students (4)
  • Can make entire households into better stewards of the earth.