Following are templates that you can use to communicate the National Green Week program to your students’ families and prepare them for the Waste-Free Snacks challenge. Letters reflect participation in programs during National Green Week 2011. However, dates can be changed to show the chosen green week (until April 18) for your school.

A. Simple Announcement (email or letter)

Dear Families,

Our school will be taking part in a very exciting environmental educational opportunity during National Green Week 2010. The goal of this program is for students to learn firsthand how they can make a difference in saving our planet’s valuable resources, no matter how small. Our school will be joining thousands of others from across the nation to achieve the following sustainability objectives during National Green Week 2011: Plan to plant 10,000 school & youth gardens, save 5% on energy costs, and eliminate a 1/2 million lbs of trash! Participate in GEF's Green Thumb Challenge, Green Energy Challenge and Waste-Free Snacks eco-challenge programs.

Waste-Free Snacks Overview: Prior to National Green Week 2011 the students will weigh all snack trash collected in their classrooms to determine the amount of trash accumulated from snack leftovers. During our Green Week we are encouraging (but not requiring) the students to use reusable snack and drink containers to carry snacks and drinks to school. Students will weigh daily snack trash. Note: fruit waste such as apple cores and banana peels will not be counted towards the snack weight totals. Our schools totals will be sent in to be added to the nationwide numbers. Nationwide totals will be posted on the National Green Week website. Parent Tip: Please shop ahead to purchase snacks and drinks in bulk (or fresh fruit). Please take a moment to read through lessons and activities in the curriculum section under National Green Week at: www.GreenEducationFoudation.org.

Sincerely,

(Principal Name)

B. PDF option to print and send home

C. Letter for ordering IXG Green Packs

Dear Families:

Our school will be taking part in a very exciting environmental educational opportunity during National Green Week 2010 2011. The goal of this program is for students to learn firsthand how they can make a difference in saving our planet’s valuable resources, no matter how small. Our school will be joining thousands of others from across the nation to achieve the following sustainability objectives during National Green Week 2011: plan to plant 10,000 school & youth gardens, save 5% on energy costs, and eliminate a 1/2 million lbs of trash! Participate in our Green Thumb Challenge, Green Energy Challenge and Waste-Free Snacks Eco-challenges.

Waste-Free Snacks Overview: Prior to National Green Week 2011 the students will weigh all snack trash collected in their classrooms to determine the amount of trash accumulated from snack leftovers. During our Green Week we are encouraging (but not requiring) the students to use reusable snack and drink containers to carry snacks and drinks to school. Students will weigh daily snack trash. Note: fruit waste such as apple cores and banana peels will not be counted towards the snack weight totals. Our schools totals will be sent in to be added to the nationwide numbers. Nationwide totals will be posted on the National Green Week website. Parent Tip: Please shop ahead to purchase snacks and drinks in bulk (or fresh fruit). Please take a moment to read through lessons and activities in the curriculum section under National Green Week at: www.GreenEducationFoudation.org.

GEF is offering IXG Green Packs as an option for families to use during National Green Week 2011, which include a National Green Week organic tee-shirt, a reusable water bottle, two snack containers, and a reusable shopping bag at a cost of $15 per student. Please see the attached order form and check off if you would like to purchase one for your child(ren).

Thank you for participating in this environmental educational program. I hope that you will use this exercise as a forum to discuss the environment with your family and why it is so important for us to all take an active part in preserving the planet’s natural resources.

Sincerely,

Principal
_____________Cut here & send in completed form to teacher ____________________

____Yes, I'd like an IXG Green Pack for my child. Enclosed is a check for $15, payable to School Name.

____No thank you, I will use my own reusable containers for the week.

Name of Child: __________________________ Teacher: _________________________

Select size: XS (4-6) ___ S (6-8) __ M (10-12) ___ L (12-14) ____ X Large (16-18) ____AXL___

Teachers Green Packs ($20 each): SM ____­­­­­­­­ MD­­­­­­­­­____ LG­­­­­­­­­____ XL­­­­­­­­­_____ XXL ­­­­­­­­­____ XXXL (add $2)

Style: NGW (Got Green?) ____ I Teach Green (Tree) ____ I Teach Green (Insignia) ____

Teacher Note: Please retain a copy of this order request and give back to the student to select their size upon arrival.

© 2010 Green Education Foundation (GEF) All rights reserved.
Fostering the new generation of environmental stewards.