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 up to Plainfield Elementary in Woodland, CA on a fall day was like driving into an energy oasis in the middle of agricultural heartland. The earth surrounding the school had been tilled awaiting the next set of crops, but in the middle of plots of land, an elementary school was sewing different seeds within the hearts, minds, and souls of their students: a new solar seed and the structure for a greenhouse had sprung up almost overnight with the support of the PG&E Solar Schools Program…but we know the school has been cultivating their garden for many years. We were there to celebrate their latest additions, and look forward to the future.

Principal Barajas spoke with passion and conviction as she discussed her school’s vision, and her team of wonderful teachers, parents, and community members that sustain the efforts of Plainfield Elementary- a “Small School” with “Big Expectations”… Nancy McFadden, Vice President of Governmental Relations spoke on behalf of PG&E, and recognized the true solar champions of Woodland. Plainfield students created and recited essays in their own words, and we all had a sense of what this school and students would continue to create. After the event, we walked over to Plainfield’s inner garden where sun tea, solar cookies, and a bevy of plants and students greeted us. We expect to continue to have our own expectations exceeded, and we look forward to the next set of crops.

I could smell the chocolate on the student’s hand as he came up to grab a solar pencil. His friend next to him had a gooey marshmellow smeared across his face. Obviously, there is nothing like a solar s’more on a nice sunny day in Oakland, especially if you received it from a solar cooking expert at Glenview Elementary.

The whole school turned out last Friday, October 20th, to celebrate their induction to the PG&E Solar Schools Family. And let me tell you, the students and staff at Glenview really know how to throw a party! In addition to the solar s’mores, there were solar art projects, solar demonstartions, and plenty of community leaders to enjoy the festivities. Representatives from the Oakland Unified School District, A representative from the Office of Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger, and Oakland’s Vice Mayor Jean Quan attended the event. All were treated to a solar tour given by 4th grade students.

PG&E Vice President of Civic Partnerships and Community Initiatives, Ophelia Basgal had the opportunity to play “Solar Claus” by presenting the school with an additional $2,500 Bright Ideas grant to purchase new computers so that the students could access the data being produced by their new solar panel, and compare it with others across California. The kids and community were having so much fun, they even stayed a bit after school to soak up all of the excitement…and dream a few new solar dreams.

Story submitted by Karalee Browne

The Holmes Elementary School in Mesa, AZ, has a pole-mounted solar electricity system facing south and generating electricity for the school. It is a 1 kW system and it is tied to the Salt River Project (SRP) power grid. For every watt of electricity generated by this solar electricity or photovoltaic (PV) system, it is one less watt the school will buy from SRP. But the primary purpose of this system is not to reduce the electric bill for the school. The primary purpose of this project is to use solar electricity as a teaching tool to help improve the students’ understanding of science and math.The project took several months from the original idea to scheduling the ribbon cutting, but it did not take too long. The process gave the students, teachers, and the school administration time to figure out a number of ways to integrate the solar electricity into the classrooms. It was a team effort and the teamwork paid off.

“We could have hurried the project, but there was no reason to rush it. We felt it was important that our entire school be involved in the process, and while nothing is perfect, we have gone a long way toward keeping everyone connected to the project,” said Principal Darlene Johnson. “We also want our neighbors to understand what we are doing and our parents and our local community leaders. Our school is at the center of the neighborhood and it is important to bring everyone into the process when we make significant changes, and this is definitely a new direction for us. Our school is now generating part of its own electricity. How many schools can say that?”

Katie Herring with SRP’s Environmental Initiatives department sees the working solar electricity system as only the first step in the process. “SRP has developed a renewable energy curriculum designed to go hand in hand with the solar installation. Providing a real world application of solar at the school will help connect and develop critical math, science and engineering skills for these students. This is such a great project from so many perspectives.”

Most of the electricity used at the school will continue to come from SRP power plants and flow to the school through the system of interconnected wires that makes up part of the US electric power grid.

According to Rick Michalek, Operations Director for the Mesa Public School District, “This is primarily an educational project. It will reduce Holmes’ electric bill by a small percentage, but everyone involved in this project understands it is intended to make science and math a little more real for the students and the teachers at the school. They will gain some valuable first hand knowledge of solar power production, which in turn may motivate them to learn more about alternative energy sources and energy conservation. I think that the wireless monitor is a great visual aid to enhance the learning experience. The students can observe the power production of the panel in real time, and use the recorded data to make historical comparisons and generate reports”.

Guadalupe, a fifth grade student in Mrs. Wilson’s class writes: What I think as a kid and student of Holmes Elementary is that the solar panel looks great and I believe other people will think that it’s a school doing very artistic and visionary kinds of projects. I also think it will be good for other students of Holmes Elementary to tell their perspective of the solar project. It would be good because the students of Holmes Elementary will learn about how natural energy comes from the sun. They’ll know that here in Arizona it is always sunny so it is a good place to have solar panels.

Elisabeth, a sixth grade student in Mr. Gibson’s class writes: As a student I think that the solar panel is a good idea for each staff member and student. As each student gets to know more about the solar panel, it will make perfect sense to them.

Principal Johnson writes: Teachers at Holmes Elementary are excited about the “real life” experiences the solar panel brings to our site. A field trip to the west side of campus provides lessons in science and math. This first hand experience with solar energy will open doors for our creative students to many possible alternative energy resources. The solar panel will “spark” the imagination and “peak” the interest of our students.

Things just got a little brighter for the Wothington City School system (Ohio) and eighth grade science teacher Kevin Swabb. Not only did Worthingway just complete another year of successful solar car races, but now students will be able to view data on the internet showing how much electricity the one kW solar panel array is producing everyday. As part of the solar car project, students receive two solar panels, 1 motor, wheels, and a selection of building materials for the competition. How they use the materials is the key to having a successful racecar. Everybody starts with the same basic equipment, but in the end each car is an original piece. Student interest remains as high as ever in the car building project as another year of races approaches!

As part of the solar car project, students learn about how the one kW solar panel array installed at Worthingway produces electricity for our school. The Fat Spaniel monitoring system was installed last year at Wortingway with the help of AEP, and will give students feedback about how the panels are operating. The panels are now connected to a new monitoring system that can be viewed on the web site: http://view2.fatspaniel.net/FST/Portal/ Check us out on the web for yourself and see how well our system is working! Eventually, our school will be connected via a new portal that connects our projects with those around the country and world.