Cabrillo Unified School District cares deeply about its impact on the environment. This care is embedded into the fabric of the coastside due to the importance and proximity of the ocean. The necessity of comprehensive sustainability actions that contribute to a safer and healthier future for our students and community has never been more crucial. Rising sea levels¹, polluted stormwater runoff, droughts, fires and the never ending list of climate change caused catastrophes impact each and every individual in our beloved community. CUSD’s efforts are guided by the principles of sustainability, social equity and inclusion, and education. These actions and initiatives are being guided by administration and a sustainability committee composed of CUSD students, teachers, employees and community members.

Check out our commitment statement.

Earth Day Proclamation

Current Green Initiatives

Campus

• Waste Reduction and Sorting  - to reduce overall waste and increase diversion from landfills
• Refill Stations - clean hydration for students with emphasis on reusable bottles and a reduction in single use plastics
• Kings Mountain partners with Safe Routes to School²
• Kings Mountain provides recycling bins in the classrooms and office.
• Hatch provides students with five garbage bins during lunch time in the cafeteria: three for recycling and another two for trash.
• School Gardens - educating students about where our food comes from and why it is important

Curriculum

• El Granada Elementary 5th graders  participate in environmentally-focused field trips: Sea Odyssey out of Santa Cruz, where students learn about navigation, microbiology, and ecology; and Skyline Ridge/Daniel’s Nature Reserve, where students learn about the local watershed, local flora and fauna, and local ecosystems.
• Farallone View students participate in and promote various events sponsored by the Safe Routes to School (SRTS) such as International Walk & Roll to School Day, Ruby Bridges Walk to School Day, and more.
• This year, Farallone View became an Ocean Guardian School. We are participating in various projects to help protect our local watershed such as beach cleanups and promoting reusable products rather than single-use plastic options. Farallone students are becoming Watershed Warriors!
• Hatch hosts Oceans Week³ every year. Students are immersed for two weeks studying the nature of the oceans. Students participate in an assembly/presentation, book readings, drawings/art, and presentations about oceans.
• In spring, all Kings Mountain students hope to build a living garden from the soil to harvest healthy plants so they can grow their own food. Students will understand different cycles and systems as they relate to ecology and gardening.  Students will build empathy for the natural environment. Students will enhance their senses through thoughtful/mindful sensory exploration of their natural surroundings.
• Compost (including worm composting system) and gardening area developed for Life Sciences along with the San Mateo Resource Conservation District. A Compost Club is planned to go with the area when students return.
  

Culture

• 2012: creation of AP environmental science course because of student interest in environment and sustainability
• 2016 - present: students created an environmental club to focus on sustainability efforts
• 2018/2019: environmental club students began working on improving waste management system at HMBHS and worked on a grant for new recycling bins (implemented in 2019/2020)
• Current environmental club students are working on proposals for a more comprehensive zero waste plan for the HS and other sites at the district
• Solar panels on CUSD buildings/campuses
• EV Charging Stations to promote the transition to clean energy
• EV School Buses Initiative - CUSD has applied to Bay Area Air Quality⁴ to receive funds for an EV school bus fleet

Community

• Hatch works in partnership with the HEAL project⁵ so students learn about plants, food chains, and how to grow their own vegetable garden. 
• Hatch and Farallone View PTOs fund 2 THP programs in their School Gardens:
  • Intensive Garden Program (IGP) with 26 weeks of small group garden-based education for all 2nd and 3rd graders at the school during the school year.
  • Garden Club for optional lunch recess activity in the spring for 3-5th grades at the IGP schools
• 2018 - present: Coastside Land Trust6 collaboration with local elementary schools and HMBHS students to promote environmental literacy and stewardship of local ecological resources.
• Republic Waste is working with CUSD to do commercial compost but no educational element yet and rollout is still in the works.
  

Sustainability Dashboard

Having trouble viewing? Visit CUSD monthly water use link.

Having trouble viewing? Visit CUSD monthly water cost link.

Having trouble viewing? Visit CUSD monthly energy use link.

Having trouble viewing? Visit CUSD monthly energy cost link.

Links and Resources

1. https://seachangesmc.org/vulnerability-assessment/
2. www.cabrillo.k12.ca.us/our_community/safe_routes_to_school/results___audits_archive
3. https://hatchpto.digitalpto.com/programs/oceans-weeks/
4. www.baaqmd.gov/funding-and-incentives/funding-sources/carl-moyer-program
5. www.thehealproject.org/
6. www.coastsidelandtrust.org/