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Susie Kohl

Punctuality Without Pain


Make being punctual a family value that communicates the message “I respect you and care about you” in any situation, but particularly the school day. “I care about teachers who have gotten up and come in early to set up the classrooms.” “I care about classmates who arrive on time and join the harmonious rhythm of the day.”


Children and parents can collaborate on the goal of being punctual in ways that promote connection and set the stage for a happy day. Make “Our family gets places right on time” your motto.

Getting out the door in the morning without nagging, power struggles, and tears can be a major accomplishment, and arguments can leave us feeling defeated before we even drop a child off – “Get your shoes on” “Where is your homework?” “Don’t dawdle, we have to go.” Often the same roadblocks occur every day and appear not to have a resolution. Here are some tips for creating morning routines that emphasize connection and collaboration.


Start the day with connections. Cuddle for a few minutes. Read a story.


Create incentives for leaving on time. “If you get dressed by 7:45, we have time to play a game or read a story, or we can plan to go to a park after school.” “If our family is out the door by 8 every day for a week, we’re going to reward ourselves with a fun activity that everyone loves.”


Avoid giving attention to dawdling, moving slowly, being distracted or defiant or in a bad mood. Children will escalate any behavior that you give attention to, often making them into power struggles that siphon off your energy. Try to reframe your perspective to notice ways they are showing independence in getting ready or cooperating with your group punctuality goal. “I notice you picked out your clothes before I even asked you.”


Offer recognition for independence, following routines, and listening. “You already got your backpack ready!”


Start cooperating the night before to make mornings flow easily. Working together to plan for the next day creates connection and an expectation that mornings will involve positive cooperation.

  • Pick out foods your child would like for lunch the next day and collaborate on putting it together.

  • Lay out clothes for the next day.

  • Set the table for breakfast.

  • Gather homework papers and any forms that need to be taken to school.


Substitute music for screen time. Watching TV even for a short time distracts children from feeling motivated to be part of the morning’s positive flow. It pulls them into another world, and they often feel angry when they have to leave it, even if they have agreed to time limits previously.

Music can energize the whole family, and children feel empowered when they get to choose what music to play at home or in the car.


Look forward to playing games, singing, or making fun plans during the car ride.

Susie Kohl

Be A Welcomer



I believe in the world and its bigness and splendor, that most of the hearts beating round us are tender; … that strangers are friends that we may someday meet.

~ Edgar Guest


You might know Warren as our director of admissions and Adrienne as the coordinator of our beautiful school gardens, but they are also a family, along with five-year-old Willow and their dog, Cricket. The four of them spend a lot of time welcoming people because they genuinely love to see people feeling a part of things.


When a new student comes to school or someone in Willow’s class is having a hard time adjusting, the Wallaces will often invite them for a playdate. Those get-togethers aren’t necessarily aimed at finding a special friend for Willow. They have sometimes invited a child Willow wasn’t particularly interested in being friends with because they wanted the family to feel supported. They have also set up playdates for Willow’s whole class at parks and playgrounds. All of this activity grows out of a vision that everyone can and should be included.


This is a transformative perspective that all of us can adopt as classes are reconstituted, new students start at our school, and others leave. As parents we often want to help our child find one friend who helps them to feel secure every day, but this approach is often limiting and causes heartache and confusion when that one friend wants to be with someone else.


As the year begins, it’s wonderful to help your child notice everyone who is currently in a classroom and nurture potential points of interest and connection. “I see a new girl in your class who rides a scooter to school. What’s her name?” If the class has been together awhile, notice the positive ways people have changed. You don’t have to set up playdates with everyone, but taking time to really see everyone and talk about who they are is a powerful tool for inclusion and a sense of group unity.


You don’t have to know people in order to become a welcomer, a person with an expanded vision of inclusion. Parents can be important role models for children by actively noticing who is in a class and finding moments to reach out to others, even if it’s just an introduction. “Hi, so happy to see our children are in the same class.”

Adrienne Wallace

Sustainable Home Workshop: How-to Guide, Notes, and Helpful References

Note: If you’re looking for a specific topic, hit “Control-F” (PC) or “Command-F” (Mac) and enter the word or phrase you’re searching for.



Where to Begin

  1. Identify your WHY.

    1. Why are you interested in making changes?

    2. Identify the reasons behind your motivation, and make them clear to see every day: put them on your fridge, make them the wallpaper on your phone, put a note in your car or in your wallet.

  2. Calculate your carbon footprint at www.footprintnetwork.org or earthovershootday.org.

  3. Do a “trash audit.”

    1. Dump out the entire contents of your trash and recycle bins.

    2. Sort the contents into categories (e.g., food packaging, papers, other packaging, clothing).

    3. See which pile has the most items in it.

    4. Begin reducing your largest piles with the following tips!

  4. Along with the trash audit, do a consumption audit/energy audit.

    1. Check your bank statements to see where your money is going.

      1. Is a lot going to energy use?

      2. Is a lot going to non-essentials or frivolous purchases, or even single-use items?

  5. Start by addressing three areas you feel might be easiest – see below for categories.

    1. People often feel too overwhelmed to even begin.

    2. Instead of taking on the entire project at once, feel free to take baby steps. Start with the three easiest areas.

    3. BUT don’t stop there! Once you’ve created a habit or system that you feel comfortable with, introduce another lifestyle change.




Helpful Tips and Resources by Category


Water


Tips and Resources

  1. Reduce water consumption.

    1. Turn off the water while brushing your teeth or scrubbing dishes.

    2. Fill the dishwasher and washing machine completely when doing loads.

      1. Use cold water for laundry — tons of energy is wasted by heating water for loads.

    3. Take shorter showers.

    4. Put a bucket in the shower to catch extra water, and use this water to water plants or to flush the toilet.

    5. “If it’s yellow, let it mellow.”

    6. Reuse water used to cook rice, pasta, veggies, etc.

  2. Grow a food garden instead of a lawn!

  3. Fix plumbing leaks.

  4. Reduce consumption of animal products: http://www.onegreenplanet.org/animalsandnature/how-does-eating-meat-impact-your-water-footprint/

  5. Reduce consumption of the most water-intensive products:

    1. Meat and dairy

    2. New clothing – opt for second hand

    3. Paper – opt for recycled




Fuel/Greenhouse Gas Emissions


Tips and Resources

  1. Minimize driving — take a bus, walk, bike, carpool.

  2. Avoid “same day” or other rushed shipping. This intense time frame increases greenhouse gas emissions because it prevents delivery companies from operating at maximum efficiency. Amazon has a free option to opt out of this; they even provide discounts for participating.

  3. Reduce usage of AC/heating.

    1. Hot days: run a fan, open your windows at night, and close them and blinds during the day.

    2. Cold days: wear extra layers, drink tea, eat warming foods, get lots of exercise to warm the body naturally.

  4. Reduce energy usage in the home (these tips will also save you money!)

    1. Buy energy-efficient light bulbs (LED).

    2. Unplug appliances, computers, etc. when not in use.

    3. Turn off the lights when you’re not in the room.

    4. Turn off the lights during the day.

    5. Turn off heated dry on your dishwasher.

    6. Turn off the oven a few minutes before food is finished cooking — the residual heat will continue to cook your food without using energy.

    7. Keep the oven open after you're done cooking (oven off) to let hot air heat your home.

    8. Opt for renewable energy if your budget allows: Check out this 100% renewable energy program through PG&E: https://www.mcecleanenergy.org/100-renewable/

    9. Wash clothes in cold water and hang them to dry (saves an average of $63 a year).

      1. Dryers use a ridiculous amount of energy.

      2. Use an indoor drying rack in winter or an outdoor clothesline in summer.


Documentaries on this subject




Forests/Paper and Wood Usage


Tips and Resources

  1. Think before you print! Do you really need to print it?

  2. Use both sides of the paper.

  3. Reduce consumption of palm oil: palm plantations are a leading cause of deforestation after animal agriculture.

  4. Shred paper and add it to your compost pile or put it in a paper bag in your recycle bin.

  5. Reduce paper use in general. Recycling is better than nothing, but recycling paper produces a TON of harmful chemicals and uses up a lot of energy.

  6. Buy recycled paper or sustainably harvested paper.

  7. Go to https://www.catalogchoice.org/ to reduce your junk mail.

    1. Or call/email junk mailers directly and ask that your name be removed from their mailing lists.

  8. Check out salvage yards or the East Bay Depot for Creative Reuse when starting a project.

    1. Salvage yards often have lots of wood, and the Depot has lots of perfectly good second-hand craft supplies.

  9. Choose bamboo products when you can.

    1. Bamboo grows really fast and takes in more carbon than trees.

    2. Some examples of bamboo products include bamboo fabric, bamboo toothbrushes, bamboo sheets, and bamboo kitchen utensils.



Food Waste/Food-Related Sustainability


Tips and Resources

  1. Meal plan to avoid food waste.

  2. Compost all food waste in a home compost or your green bin, or bring it to the Seven Circles Garden (no animal products except honey, please, for the Seven Circles Garden, but they’re ok in the green bins at home).

  3. Reduce consumption of animal products.

  4. Support local farmers — their produce is generally unwrapped and reduces transportation emissions. Buying local also helps you buy in-season foods. https://www.contracosta.ca.gov/7549/Contra-Costa-Certified-Farmers-Markets

  5. Purchase unpackaged foods.

    1. Avoid plastic produce bags — make your own out of old T-shirts!

      1. https://inhabitat.com/ecouterre/recycle-an-old-t-shirt-into-a-produce-grocery-bag-diy-tutorial/

      2. Or buy produce bags here: https://packagefreeshop.com/products/organic-cotton-net-produce-sack-large

      3. And bulk bags here: https://packagefreeshop.com/products/drawstring-produce-bag-cotton-large-medium

    2. Avoid paper or plastic bags — carry a reusable bag with you.

      1. Purchase in bulk (pasta, rice, beans, lentils, dried fruit, nuts) using reusable cotton bags (see links above).

      2. Stores that have bulk dry foods

        1. Harvest House in Concord

        2. Sprouts Farmers Market in Walnut Creek

        3. Safeway in Alamo

        4. Whole Foods and Whole Foods 365 in Concord

Documentaries on this subject:



Consumption/Trash


Tips and Resources

  1. Reduce/Reuse/Repair/Recycle/Rot

    1. Reduce what you consume — think about purchases and their entire lifespan (production, consumption, end of life) before you purchase.

      1. Reduce your purchases of FIRST-hand items. Try to find things you need second-hand — this reduces the impact on the planet and your wallet!

      2. Use free programs to reduce consumption

        1. The library

        2. Hold a clothing swap

        3. Join Toy Cycle to swap toys with other mindful families

    2. Reuse what you already have, or make purchases of reusable goods that will last a long time.

      1. Reuse an old T-shirt to create bulk produce and dry-goods bags.

      2. Use an old jar to hold flowers or to put food in as a gift.

      3. Consider ALL places in your house — even things you might not think of:

        1. Women: reduce period waste by using a menstrual cup (https://putacupinit.com/quiz/).

        2. Babies: reusable diapers and wipes (use old cut-up clothing and spray bottle filled with water and some lavender essential oil)

        3. Hygiene/cosmetics

          1. Reusable razors (https://packagefreeshop.com/collections/health-beauty/products/albatross-double-edged-safety-razor-with-10-free-blades )

          2. Shampoo/conditioner bars and bar soap

          3. Elate cosmetics offers refillables (https://elatebeauty.com/)

          4. Bamboo toothbrush (https://packagefreeshop.com/products/bamboo-toothbrush-adult )

          5. Reusable makeup wipes/cotton rounds (check Etsy)

        4. Eating/food shopping

          1. Metal straws (https://packagefreeshop.com/collections/kitchen/products/6-95-stainless-steel-straw )

          2. Reusable sandwich bags (https://www.lunchskins.com/products/tangerine-orange-sandwich-bag?gclid=EAIaIQobChMI4OfgnfDm3wIV9R6tBh3f2wicEAQYFyABEgK82fD_BwE )

          3. Reusable cling wrap (https://www.beeswrap.com/)

          4. Cloth napkins

          5. Reusable produce bags and bulk bags (make your own from an old T-shirt or buy them here: https://packagefreeshop.com/collections/kitchen/products/organic-cotton-net-produce-sack-large )

        5. Home

          1. Glass spray bottles to be filled with homemade cleaner (white vinegar and citrus peels)

          2. Reusable water bottles (glass or stainless steel)

          3. Reusable wool dryer balls instead of dryer sheets (add essential oils to make them smell great https://packagefreeshop.com/products/bog-berry-dryer-balls )

          4. Reusable rags instead of paper towels (make these out of old clothing)

    3. Repair things that are broken instead of replacing them.

      1. Get your shoes resoled instead of purchasing new ones

        1. Dean’s Shoe repair, or A1 Shoe Repair

      2. Get electronics repaired instead of replacing.

      3. Get clothing altered or resewn instead of tossing it.

        1. Altering clothing can give it new life.

        2. Sew up small holes, reattach buttons, and take ripped clothing to a tailor.

      4. Purchase high-quality items in the first place — it will generally save you money in the long run, and you won't have to repair them as often!

      5. Recycle what you cannot reuse or repair.

      6. Choose glass, metal, and paper. Avoid plastics as they do not easily recycle, but instead downcycle. Downcycling is a recycling practice that involves breaking an item down into its component elements or materials. Once the constituent elements or materials are recovered, they are reused if possible but usually as a lower-value product. For example, plastic water bottles are eventually downcycled into plastic bags, which are further downcycled into materials that can only be placed in landfill.

    4. Recycle old electronics and clothing.

      1. Electronics: Best Buy accepts e-waste, or participate in the Meher Schools’ annual e-waste drive.

      2. Clothing: H&M accepts used clothing (try to repurpose first! — baby wipes, rags, makeup wipes)

      3. Clean your recyclables — recycling plants often dump goods if they’re dirty or covered in food residue.

      4. Don’t place your recyclables in a plastic bag. It will be thrown away.

    5. Rot

      1. Avoid throwing food waste into the trash can.

        1. Start a compost pile, put the waste in the green bin, or bring it to the Seven Circles Garden (no animal products except honey, please, for the Seven Circles Garden, but they are ok in the green bins at home).

  2. Bring reusables with you if you’re getting take-out meals or expect to bring home extra food after eating at a restaurant.

    1. Bring Tupperware, utensils, a napkin, etc.

    2. Bring a reusable coffee cup to the café (you might even get a discount!).

  3. Avoid single-use plastics.

    1. Reusable options exist for almost anything — they will likely save you money in the long run as well!

    2. Check out lifewithoutplastic.com, zerowastehome.com, packagefreeshop.com, and the Ecology Center in Berkeley.

  4. Buy things second-hand.

    1. This saves you money and the planet’s finite resources.

  5. When you can’t or don’t want to buy things second-hand (undies? socks? toothbrushes?) …

    1. Sustainable companies exist for tons of items! Just do your research before buying!

    2. Examples of helpful websites:

      1. Lifewithoutplastic.com

      2. Brushwithbamboo.com

      3. Beeswrap.com

      4. Wearpact.com (organic cotton clothing – does come wrapped in plastic, though)

      5. packagefreeshop.com



Books on this subject (check your library!)

  • Plastic Free by Beth Terry

  • Zero Waste Home by Bea Johnson

  • Affluenza by John De Graaf

  • Shoptimism by Lee Eisenberg

  • Overdressed by Elizabeth L. Cline


Documentaries on this subject:


Stores that sell goods to help reduce your waste



Final Notes

This is a process. No one perfectly reduces their consumption overnight. My own journey began about three-and-a-half years ago, and I still have changes I have been putting off or trying to figure out. All we can do is our best and spread the message. If one day you throw away a pound of garbage but remember to bring your coffee mug to the café, then count that day as a success and set another goal for the next day. Always remain reasonable in what you can accomplish, and take it step by step. Ask for help, do your research, and seek out inspiration. We’ve got this!




Adrienne Wallace is our gardening teacher and Sustainability Coordinator, and has a degree is Environmental Sciences.


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