California Safe Schools Policy Honored at Environmental Celebration
California Safe Schools ( Non-Profit) Children's Environmental Health Organization - Embraces Precautionary Principle & Right to Know
Los Angeles, CA (PRWEB) October 26, 2004
Carter Jenkins of Nickelodeons "Unfabulous" and Joy Loren of ABCÂ’s New series "Desperate Housewives", and internationally celebrated illustrator Michael Bruza, joined California Safe Schools (CSS) www. calisafe. org a national childrenÂ’s environmental health non-profit, for a celebration at Aldama Elementary where Green Flag Awards were presented to four Los Angeles Unified Schools, out of only twelve in the nation, and three innovative safety messages in the CSS "Kids Get More than Calcium with Milk" Safety Campaign with Driftwood Dairy were unveiled.
Founded in 1998, California Safe School Coalition was the force behind Los Angeles Unified School District groundbreaking Integrated Pest Management (IPM) Policy, whose preamble includes the "precautionary principle." IPM uses low risk methods to eradicate pests. This policy led to California's Healthy Schools Act of 2000, and has become a model for school districts and communities internationally.
Over one million safety messages are distributed to students throughout Southern California. Prior messages include: It's Our Ocean Too - Keep it Clean! - Be Proud of Your Planet - Protect it! & Don't Feed Pests Use Trash Bins.
The Green Flag program provides a mechanism for school environmental groups (consisting of students, teachers, parents and staff), to explore the environmental impacts of their school. The national GREEN FLAG AWARDS recipients for Recycling and Integrated Pest Management (which uses low risk methods to eliminate pests and weeds) :
Aldama Elementary - Fernangeles Elementary Millikan Middle School - Sun Valley Middle School
CSS Board Chair, Ashley Posner, Esq, presented Awards to each of the four Principals of the Green Flag Schools, from the City and County of Los Angeles, State of California, and Waste Management.
Cheers erupted from the crowded auditorium when Robina Suwol, Executive Director of CSS, introduced Carter Jenkins of Nickelodeon’s "Unfabulous" and Joy Loren of ABC ‘s new series, "Desperate Housewives", who congratulated the students and schools on their efforts to protect the environment and human health.
Students wearing Patagonia t-shirts with prior CSS Milk Cartons images and slogans responded with more applause, when Los Angeles Unified Boardmember David Tokofsky, and Michael Bruza, illustrator, unveiled the three new Milk Carton Safety Messages.
Other distinguished guests attending the event included: Office of Assemblywoman Jackie Goldberg, Mayor James Hahn, Los Angeles County Supervisor Gloria Molina, John Dolan of Driftwood Dairy, Steve Seeley of Tetrapak, Mitzi Shpak, Caltech Michotechnologist in Genetics, Robert Hamm, Deputy Director of Maintenance & Operations for Los Angeles Unified School District, Mary Sanders, Personal Manager AMM*IMM Talent Management who represent the talented Joy Lauren and Carter Jenkins, and Waste Management.
Guests were entertained by the inspired dancing of the Aldama Elementary Dance Ensemble, and the Driftwood Dairy mascot, Drifty the Cow, who performed a two - step, and shook hooves with the students.
At the reception, following the presentation, Carter Jenkins, Joy Lauren, and Michael Bruza signed autographs for students, while famed photographer Cathy Blaivas memorialized the celebration.
For more information:
Robina Suwol, Executive Director
California Safe Schools (Non-Profit)
Box 2123
Toluca Lake, California 91610
818-785-5515
Www. calisafe. org
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