Community

Every day, children come to school without their basic needs being met. Ashwaubenon Cares (or AshCares), sponsored by Ashwaubenon Family Resource Centers, has been established to provide families the opportunity to help each other.

AshCares is a network of people who receive notification via email when an Ashwaubenon student or family is in need. Items requested may be as simple as 4T pants or winter boots and can be new or gently used. To become a part of the AshCares network, please email ashcares@ashwaubenonk12.org. Donation receipts will be issued upon request.

The AshCares process:

• A need is brought to the attention of a school social worker or a school counselor.
• When appropriate, the school social worker or counselor contacts the AshCares Coordinator who will then email the entire network.
• Those who choose to help simply reply to the ashcares@ashwaubenon.k12.wi.us email.
• Donations are brought to the requesting school to be given to the family in need. special arrangements can be made for larger items.

For more information, email ashcares@ashwaubenon.k12.wi.us

Guided by consultants from Energy Education, Inc, of Fort Worth, Texas, the district embarked on an energy education program in the fall of the 2009-2010 school year. The Ashwaubenon School Board has established an energy policy and guidelines to be followed in all buildings throughout the district.

Hank Schmitt, a retired Ashwaubenon teacher, was hired part-time to be the district's Energy Education Specialist. He took over for Ed Krcmar, another retired Ashwaubenon teacher, who was the district's first Energy Education Specialist. Our The Energy Education Specialist works with the national consultants and district personnel to establish base-line data, evaluate district buildings for energy efficiency, and increase awareness of energy saving practices for all district employees.

The energy program includes incentives and awards to help facilitate even greater savings. An "Energy Stars of the Month" award is presented to the building that leads the school district in following energy-saving guidelines. Different criteria is used each month for the award.

We've also expanded our energy education and conservation program beyond school district facilities. From our partnership with EnergyCap, we are able to provide free energy conservation tools (see right margin and below) to our community of residents and businesses.

EnergyCap's GreenQuest provides a first step towards energy efficiency and cost savings by simply tracking your utility bills. By using it for your home or business, GreenQuest becomes your personal energy information website and shows you how your energy conservation efforts payoff.

EnergyCap's Weather Data Depot  is a free source for heating degree day and cooling degree day reports and charts! Degree days indicate weather severity as it affects building energy usage, so degree day comparisons are useful for energy management, energy efficiency and utility bill tracking.

A variety of Earth Day Resources are available which can help individuals learn how to save energy in their own homes.Those resources are listed below:

• www.epa.gov/earthday
• www.earthday.org
• www.teachersfirst.com/holiday/earthday.cfm
• www.lessonplanet.com/teachers/lesson-plan-celebrating-earth-day

General conservation information is available at:

• www.energystar.gov
• www.planetpals.com
• www.michaelbluejay.com/electricity

For more information regarding our energy education and conservation efforts, contact Energy Education Specialist Hank Schmitt at 920-492-2905, extension 1012 or hschmitt@ashwaubenonk12.org.

Listed below are some government and educational agency links you may find useful.

Similar to our work with these partners to educate children, you may also find them to be a valuable resource.