The Life Skills recycling program at Lynnwood High started as a vocational task for Life Skills students and has grown to not only help the students involved, but all of LHS.

The students who are in the program spend a portion of their day working on academics and part of their day working on functional life skills that will help them be independent when they leave school.

“The recycling program gives students the opportunity to work on several job skills, as well as [learn] the importance of recycling and doing our part to save the environment,” said Laura Glaus, the life skill teacher who is in charge of the recycling program at LHS.

The recycling program helps the students learn important job skills such as completing tasks and checklists, following directions, entering rooms without distracting, and social skills, all while reminding students that recycling is important.

“We have a recycling route that we follow every day during 5th period,” said Glaus. “At the beginning of the school year, I asked teachers on the first floor who would be willing for us to come into their classroom and empty their recycling bins.”

For the teachers who were willing, a map and checklist was created. A group of 3-4 students take the checklist along with a large recycling bin on the route every day to empty the bins.

“The students also break down and remove boxes from the school store,” said Glaus. “They then take the full bin down to the janitor’s hallway for them to empty at the end of the route.”

Glaus hopes that the students are learning a lot from the project.

“It would be great for students to think about what they are throwing away and where they are throwing it,” said Glaus.

Student Cristian Benitez likes working on the project as part of his class. “The program makes it easier for the teachers,” said Benitez. “It is good for the environment and good to help out. It’s a fun experience.”

Samantha Dawn Pickering is a student at Lynnwood High School.