garzahighschool.

       UpLift Austin is proud to say that our program at Garza High School was a phenomenal success! Both students and staff praised the UpLift course for the many positive changes it brought to the campus and community. Below you will find a summarized list of our accomplishments:

STUDENTS SERVED: UpLift Austin provided over 440 hours of programming, reaching 53 students. On average, each student spent 130 hours in UpLift programming, both in and outside of the classroom.

STUDENT PROJECTS: Each quinmester, UpLift students had a specific project focus. Collectively, the three classes of students accomplished the following:

• Created the foundation work for the Garza Green Master Plan in which the students split into groups to review the schools existing systems and issues with: waste management, energy consumption, water use, indoor air quality and transportation. They then created a power point presentation for the principle of the school that summarized Garza's strengths and needs in each category. The UpLift Garza students of 2010-11 will continue with the work on the Green Master Plan, by taking steps toward implementing the suggested campus green improvements.
• Created an official Green Map of Garza using the Green Map icons which designates what the green initiatives the campus has already implemented, and where future improvements will be. The Garza Green Map is an accompaniment for the Garza Green Master Plan power point presentation and will be posted on Austin's Green Map website.
• Designed and built the deck for the outdoor classroom. The students worked with professional architects and designers to draft official design/build plans and built the deck to comply with AIA and all safety standards. The deck was completed in time for the schools spring Mix IT Up day where the entire campus happily used the deck as the performance stage.
• Implemented campus-wide Recycling & Composting System. Signage and decals were designed by students and donated by Build-a-Sign. 50 recycling bins were donated by Freescale.
• Conducted a school wide lighting audit to determine what measures the school needs to take in order to reduce their energy consumption.
• Conducted a school wide transportation survey to determine what kinds of carpooling and biking incentive programs could be started.

COMMUNITY VOLUNTEER DAYS: UA organized six community volunteer days in which adults visited Garza over the weekend to assist in the project implementation. In total, over 25 adult volunteers assisted the UpLift program at Garza.

COMMUNITY EVENTS & INVOLVEMENT: UpLift students were involved in many community events throughout the year, including the following:

• January 20-21, UA Garza Students participated in the City of Austin's Comprehensive Plan with the Imagine Austin's Meeting in a Box forum. They split into groups of four and met for three days discussing what they feel are some of Austin's greatest needs and most under served issues. They submitted their results as youth representatives.
• On February 19th, UA brought 25 Garza students on a field trip to visit and tour the SNAP house that a team of UT students created for the 2005 Solar Decathlon in Washington D.C. It was built using reclaimed, recycled and sustainable materials. It features both passive and active systems to enable energy production, solar electric and thermal systems, rain catchment, stacked ventilation and an edible garden.
• April 23-25, 2010: Green Living Home Expo - UpLift partnered with Show Technology to provide waste diversion services to the Green Living Home Expo at the Convention Center. Ten students from Garza Independence and ten students from KIPP Austin Collegiate spent the entire weekend working the Expo. Students were tasked to monitor the recycling and composting stations, measure the waste diverted, and assist with stage presentations.
• On Friday July 23rd 2010, UA partnered with E. 6th ST IBIZ district, Sol Design Labs and Clay Works Studio and brought 10 Garza students to the Clay Works Studio for a tour and hands on tile making workshop, where the students were able to make their own tiles from fresh clay that they would later decorate with native plants. The tile making is the first step of their creation of a public mosaic mural that will be mounted on E.6th St this fall. The mural represents the native plants and cultural heritage of the area.

To see more please check out the Garza Independance High School Photo Album!