Around the Schools
Superintendent Banda joins students, staff, professional athletes in Denny Day of Service project
Photos courtesy of Seattle Mariners
Volunteers at the Denny Day of Service worked at Denny's garden on August 1. Workers included players and former players from the Seattle Mariners, Storm, Seahawks and Sounders.
New Seattle Public Schools Superintendent Jose Banda rolled up his sleeves and joined SPS staff, students and athletes from Seattle's professional sports teams to weed, plant and water at the Joan Allen Memorial Garden during a Green Apple Day of Service Project at Denny International Middle School August 1.
Among those participating were Seattle Mariners pitcher Lucas Luetge, (left photo speaking with Superintendent Jose Banda), Seattle Storm players Camille Little and Svetlana Ambrosimova and several former Seattle Seahawks and Sounders players.
Both Denny and neighboring Chief Sealth International High School were certified as Washington Green Schools last spring in recognition of student-driven efforts to reduce waste and make their campuses more environmentally friendly. Denny and Sealth students not only participated in the work party, they also helped to prepare a "zero waste lunch" with menu items made from produce grown in Denny's garden, including potatoes, carrots, onions and kale.
During the morning event, crews built raised planting beds from recovered cedar, planted fall crop seedlings, weeded existing planting areas and improved the school's garden storage shed.
The service project was initiated by Washington Green Schools to raise awareness of the Center for Green Schools' worldwide Green Apple Day of Service Sept 29, 2012. The global initiative will engage students, teachers, parents, business leaders, elected officials and others in volunteer activities at schools and campuses around the world.