There was a bit of drizzle (no comparison to the snow that much of the rest of the country is seeing), but the show went on…and industrious spirits found a way to make the most of what nature offered. A little intermittent rain was no match for the students, and faculty of Alvarado Elementary as they celebrated their PG&E Solar Schools project. The event and solar project was aptly articulated by San Francisco Unified School District Superintendent Chan via a Chinese proverb- “Teachers open the door, but you must enter by yourself.” We likely won’t know for a few years how many students, and community members near Alvarado Elementary will take their next steps within energy…but we know there are many steps that can, and need to be taken…even on a rainy day one can be energized for what doors will soon be opened. Superintendent Chan’s reference reminded me of my favorite Chinese proverb (which is a theme for any energy seed project): “Give a man a fish and you feed him for a day. Teach a man to fish and you feed him for a lifetime.”

Some students of Alvarado Elementary presented hand-made awards to the incoming San Francisco schools on behalf of the PG&E Solar Schools Program, which will be getting their very own 1kW solar installation in the coming months.

After remarks were made by Principal Barresi, Superintendent Chan, Ophelia Basgal (PG&E VP vice president of Civic Partnerships and Community Initiatives), and Hydra Mendoza, Mayor’s Education Advisor, Member Elect, SF Board of Education, the students, faculty, and guests went in for some hands-on solar applications. Barry Scott, our teammate from NEED, was there to entertain and inspire students with solar beads and a variety of solar gadgets that are part of the PG&E Solar Schools Program offerings. PG&E Mascot Helmet was also there to mingle with the students.

Here are the next San Francisco schools that will be getting their very own 1kW system as a part of the PG&E Solar Schools Program…we look forward to opening doors, and fishing with you soon-

1. Robert Louis Stevenson Elementary School
2. A.P Giannini Middle School
3. Presidio Middle School
4. Frank McCoppin Elementary School
5. Balboa High School
6. Life Learning Academy
7. Lakeshore Elementary School

We encourage our teachers to take advantage of PG&E’s teacher training soon, too! To look for upcoming workshops near you, go here - http://www.need.org/pgesolarschools/ssc.htm.

Driving from downtown Chicago to the northern suburbs is always a treat especially when the fall colors are at their peak. Vernon Hills, Illinois is very wooded and I can’t help but wonder if this characteristic gets taken for granted by some of the locals. The winding road leading to Hawthorn Middle School is lined with Maples, Oaks, and Elms all ablaze in reds, yellows, and oranges on this sunny but cool fall day. As I arrive, I’m impressed with the schools architecture, two separate wings, north and south, both low-rise and contemporary. No visible graffiti and almost pristine, the schools perimeter feels secure and conducive to the preparation of tomorrows leaders.

Upon entering the building I’m pleasantly greeted and directed to the gymnasium where the mornings activities are already underway. The crowd is electric as the teachers/emcees direct students to assigned seating with a blend of instruction and impromptu cheerleading. When I’m introduced along with Lisa Starks from the Illinois Clean Energy Community Foundation (ICECF), the crowd erupts, now I truly understand the infectious nature of sincere applause. To date, I don’t believe I’ve ever been greeted with such enthusiasm.

The Illinois Clean Energy Community Foundation, Foundation for Environmental Education, and ComEd share a vision of how small learning laboratories (1kW Solar Arrays) can attract student curiosity, enhance curriculum, raise awareness and educate not only students but also communities at large. Since 1999 ComEd has been involved with solar schools but never have I seen such genuine enthusiasm coupled with grace and gratitude. We knew this was a good idea way back then and clearly the energy and environmental issues of today resonate with people of all ages and backgrounds. Students in particular, have a lot at stake, armed with good information they will no doubt make choices that will lead to a more sustainable future. The faculty and administration at Hawthorn clearly get it.

I want to thank Doug Shearer for carrying the torch; it’s usually how these things happen. A true champion must emerge to shepherd the project through all the red tape and approvals. I also want to thank our budding young engineers, Hawthorn students Corey Cale, Jose Arreola, and Mikhail Nikitin for helping document the installation by producing a cool video as well as doing work on the actual installation. Here again, I continue to espouse the virtues of the program; you can teach a variety of concepts by integrating a project like this with other offerings at the school.

Finally, the first Solar School of the program was Reilly Elementary in Chicago, Illinois, and they continue to be avid participants in the building of a more sustainable community. Then there’s Pam Phelps at Apple River Middle School, another true champion of this approach to learning and others who continue to support this program. I want to thank all of the over thirty schools now participating in this innovative approach to teaching.

Paul M. Wallace
ComEd
Senior Program Lead

When fifth-grade teacher Belinda Solorazano decided to attend one of Anaheim Public Utilities’ Solar Energy Education for Educators Workshop last year, she had no idea of the personal impact the workshop would have. “I’ve taken the sun for granted for too long,” Belinda recalls, “and now I intend to use the sun’s energy.” The workshops were offered to promote solar energy technology acceptance and to increase solar energy installations in the City of Anaheim. Besides the day-long education session that emphasized a California standards-based curriculum addressing solar energy, educators also received information tools and lab kits to use in their classrooms. “The kits are jam-packed with the essentials for making a meaningful connection to all students, especially our English language learners,” notes Belinda. “This workshop was extremely beneficial to me in that it increased my comfort level, especially in regard to the content.”

The two-year Public Solar Energy Education Project was completed by Anaheim Public Utilities in 2006. Anaheim received a $50,000 Million Solar Roofs Initiative Grant to help in the funding. Then, with partners from the Rahus Institute and the Foundation for Environmental Education, Anaheim Public Utilities was able to conduct four teacher workshops and develop a Web-accessible “Video Tour of Renewable Energy in Anaheim.” The Web site features a solar energy tour that introduces users to the various solar energy systems installed throughout the city. Included are the different technologies, and sizes and power production of the systems. The Web site won a Communicator Award of Distinction for excellence in video production and can be accessed through the city Web site at www.anaheim.net.

Since the project started, four schools have installed solar energy systems on their campuses with the assistance of funding by Anaheim Public Utilities. The most recent is a 1.05-kW educational system installed at Dr. Jonas Salk Elementary School. The system has a data acquisition system that is Web-accessible for students as well as the public. Dr. Debra Von Sprecken, the school principal, says, “Our students are very excited about the system. They understand the concept and purpose of solar energy, and they are excited about monitoring how it will affect the energy consumption at our school.” The increase in solar energy systems in educational environments is proof that getting into the classroom can advance solar energy acceptance. Salk Elementary sent three educators to the project workshops, and they have all embraced the overall goals of the project. “I think the partnership is invaluable,” Dr. Von Sprecken says. “It is mutually beneficial and, certainly, we need to begin educating the students in the primary grades and make them more aware of our habits. By working together, we can make a huge difference in our environment and in our whole world.”Tomas Colunga (left) of Servite High School, Joan Kawase (middle) of St. Anthony Claret, and Sean Phi (right) of Loara High School work together to monitor volts and amps from solar energy panels included in the Educator lab kits.

City of Anaheim Video Tour of Renewable Energy can be accessed at http://www.anaheim.net. Dr. Debra Von Sprecken, principal at Dr. Jonas Salk Elementary School, dedicates the 1.05-kW solar energy education system on May 25.

Stephen Faessel (left), Anaheim Public Utilities Board chair, gets help in cutting the ribbon during the solar system dedication. From left are Willie Malpica, Salk student; Tim Thomas, “Teacher of the Year” at Salk and the Magnolia School District; and Dr. Debra Von Sprecken, Salk principal.

Students and teachers of Coulterville School decided to take the knowledge obtained from the solar unit one step further….to take the lessons literally “Beyond the Classroom Window.” Looking at the platform and the solar collection units, they decided to make this area of the school a “Solar Collection & Observation Platform.” Studies will not only surround collection and analysis of data from Sol, but also direct observation via utilization of a solar scope. This, when again enhanced, will take our students into the realm of astronomy. Preparing the platform for use, student began by prepping the area for solar designs. Brushes were pulled out and digging utensils used to remove unwanted vegetation. After several hours of intense labor, they were ready. Multiple colors of paint arrived with the brushes and rollers. Designs, previously developed in the classroom, were brought out for alignment. Nineteen little Leonardo’s began their work with passion and conviction. Of course, every great artist at times becomes so involved in their work that their work becomes a part of them.

The final results of the platform include not only Sol, but also our solar system & space travel:

Students now have the location & ability to compare Sol utilizing computer read-outs of energy from the solar collectors to visual observations and photos.

Of course, this ties directly into our space/flight unit which incorporates their own “Beyond the Classroom Window” activities:

Rocketry – Leading up to the launch of their rocket… to an adventure in Starlab… to

Preparing to fly on a flight simulator… in preparation for…actual flight!

Thank you for helping us make education a real-life adventure.

Coulterville Unit District #1, Dr. Louis E. Obernuefemann, Superintendent

Many people would agree that our schools tend to be the heart and soul of our communities. Parents and friends have a constant and lasting impact on the education of our children, but the schools are the true foundation for their upbringing. Prairie Crossing Charter School in Grayslake, Illinois is no exception. Children go to school here to learn the obvious subjects such as math, science, and history; however they are also experiencing another type of education, of which, some may not be so obvious. Their school is part of the Illinois Solar Schools project.

A few key partners deserve recognition for their collaboration on this project. The Illinois Clean Energy Community Foundation, headed by Bob Romo and Lisa Starks, Commonwealth Edison led by Paul Wallace and Janet Beniak, and finally, the Foundation for Environmental Education headed by Glen Kizer. The school applied for the grant it needed for the installation and was awarded the grant this past summer.

An array of solar panels on the roof of one of the school buildings in Prairie Crossing is a quiet reminder of the capabilities of alternative energy. While the installation is located on the rooftop, it is not hidden from people who are walking by. No explicit sign is needed to draw attention to it because the panel is placed so that it is easily visible to anyone driving by or walking around the school. The LaJeunesse family lives in the community and agrees that this solar installation will help to teach children and even adults about alternative energies.

Lauren and Carol LaJeunesse are pictured above.

Leon LaJeunesse, a contractor who pursues positive outcomes for the real estate community by using green/sustainable principles, commented that, “using solar technology allows us to honor the gift of heat and light that the sun provides for us. Solar panels visually as well as practically express the willingness to learn all we can about green/sustainable principles.”

This solar panel is a simple aesthetic reminder that we are moving forward to more efficient and cleaner sources of energy, and it is only logical that a learning environment such as Prairie Crossing is the backdrop for such a project. This installation will be one of the many in Illinois serving to teach the general population that it is possible to conserve energy and experience economic advantages simultaneously. It is a lesson that everyone in Illinois should learn.

One of the short-term results of this project is that students and teachers have been able to bring this lesson into the classroom as part of their everyday education. The long-term goal is to spread the desire to have solar power in Illinois on business buildings, malls, and even homes. The solar project in Prairie Crossing will remain an educational tool for future generations who attend the school, and the lesson from it will carry on with the graduates. One day men and women who went to Prairie Crossing will be able to speak from firsthand knowledge that this type of energy can and does work, but today few people living in Illinois believe that it is possible to generate electricity from solar panels. Examples of installations on schools will help to increase public knowledge so that preconceived notions can be broken down. The Illinois Solar Schools project is helping to transform the way in which our population values its energy consumption.

Story submitted by Kathryn Kizer.