Sequoia Elementary School

Fourth Grade Teachers, left to right: Lisa Kehr, Heidi Silva, Laura Clack

Fourth Grade Team (Margot Lipkin [STEAM Lab Coordinator], Laura Clack, Lisa Kehr, and Heidi Silva) at Sequoia Elementary School in Pleasant Hill

KIDS for the BAY is excited to present the Guardian Award 2020 to the fourth grade team at Sequoia Elementary School in Pleasant Hill! Every year STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, Math) Lab Coordinator Margot Lipkin and fourth grade teachers Laura Clack, Lisa Kehr and Heidi Silva work together to ensure that every fourth grade student receives a meaningful experience in environmental education. This team of teachers began working with KIDS for the BAY in the Watershed Action Program (WAP) in 2017. Ever since this experience, they have done an amazing job of integrating the WAP into their curriculum. Each year, teachers introduce the benefits of the WAP to their students and parents. Each class completes the four Classroom Lessons and the outdoor Field Trips, and presents the Schoolwide Assembly to their schoolmates. 

“The KIDS for the BAY program has become a vital part of the Sequoia Elementary fourth grade curriculum for the past three years. With the support of our Principal Trish Kawahara and fellow teachers, we have also introduced first through third grade students at Sequoia to the KIDS for the BAY program via Schoolwide Assemblies. It is part of our mission to encourage students to become global citizens and stewards of our environment, oceans and more locally, the San Francisco Bay watershed.” — Margot Lipkin, STEAM Lab Coordinator, Sequoia Elementary School, Pleasant Hill

STEAM Lab Coordinator, Margot Lipkin

During trash clean-up Field Trips teachers ensure safety, highlight important points from the lessons and analyze trash collection data with their classes. Sequoia Elementary also champions reducing waste at school. They have recycling bins across campus, and many teachers use compost as well. In addition, teachers repurpose and reuse supplies for many of their activities and encourage students to practice the Five Rs (Reduce, Reuse, Recycle, Rot and Refuse). 

In the 2020-2021 school year the fourth grade team plans to integrate the KIDS for the BAY Watershed Action Program into their International Baccalaureate ‘Water Systems’ unit. The team will continue teaching the WAP lessons, outdoor Field Trips and litter clean-ups. Fourth grade students will continue leading Schoolwide Assemblies to teach younger students how to reduce stormwater pollution.

 “Students are always excited for their KIDS for the BAY lessons! We are honored to be chosen for the Guardian Award.”  — Margot Lipkin, STEAM Lab Coordinator, Sequoia Elementary School, Pleasant Hill