How the Planeteers Are Changing Their School and Themselves

Back in December, Ten Strands connected with students from Westborough Middle School who have been working relentlessly to create change on their campus. They are the Planeteers Club. Advised by science teacher Corinna Low—an alum of the San Mateo County Office of Education’s Teacher Fellowship Program, a decade-long initiative supported by Ten Strands and the Sand Hill Foundation—the club is made up of sixth-, seventh-, and eighth-grade students who care deeply about reducing waste and taking care of their school community. Over the years, the Planeteers have run a school share table, monitored recycling and compost bins during lunch, and organized youth climate protests after school. But for the students themselves, being a Planeteer is about more than any single project.

When Ten Strands set out to interview the Planeteers, the goal was to capture the passion behind their work. During one of their after-school meetings, students sat down to share firsthand what they’ve been working on and why it matters. Each student was asked to describe how it feels to be part of the club. Most of them paused—one word didn’t quite capture it.

“It’s great,” said Derrick, an eighth grader and the club’s president, after thinking it over. Seventh grader Emi called being part of the Planeteers “exciting,” while Cora described the work as “rewarding.”

The club brings together students who care deeply about their school, their community, and the environment. While their work ranges from sorting compost at lunch to cleaning storm drains across the city, what unites them is a shared belief that small actions can lead to real change.

That belief was tested—and affirmed—when the students learned that their school had been named a 2024 Sustainable and Climate-Ready Schools Challenge winner. The news came as a surprise.

“I didn’t really know what it was at first,” Derrick admitted.

For others, the recognition felt meaningful not because of the award itself, but because it reflected the care behind the work. “It’s cool that we’re getting recognized in this type of way,” said Samer, a seventh grader and vice president of the club. “We don’t really do it for anything—we just want to help the environment.”

That mindset shows up in the way the Planeteers work every day at Westborough. At lunchtime, students take turns monitoring compost and recycling bins, helping classmates sort their waste correctly. They run a share table so unopened food doesn’t end up in the trash. This year, they’ve gone a step further by conducting weekly waste inventories in classrooms—sorting bins, tracking mistakes, and sharing short reports to help teachers and students improve.

Working together is what makes it possible. “You can’t do it all alone,” Samer explained. “Working as a club helps you get things done faster and make sure everything gets done.” Sixth grader Christian recalled a morning cleanup before school when a group of Planeteers tackled a huge pile of trash under a tree. “If one person tries to clean it up, they can’t do it in a couple of hours,” he said. “But together, we cleaned it up in like half an hour.”

Beyond campus, the club has been expanding its reach into the wider community. The Planeteers now clean and maintain twenty storm drains around the city, help remove invasive plants, plant native species, and support a local preschool garden. They also show up on weekends for beach and trail cleanups, often alongside community partners.

Those efforts caught the attention of South San Francisco Mayor Buenaflor Nicolas, who visited the club in the fall of 2023 to thank the students and hear their ideas. When asked how the city could support them, the students didn’t hesitate—they requested lids for compost and trash bins and signed up to help reduce flooding through the city’s Adopt a Storm Drain program.

The experience has shifted how students think—not just about waste, but about responsibility. Princeton, the club’s treasurer, said he’s learned how different plastics affect recycling and how composting can go a long way. “I’ve started recycling a lot more and trying to compost as much as I can,” he said, both at school and at home.

Knowing their work helps their school and community is what keeps students motivated. “It’s rewarding,” Cora said. “Everything you do is always making an impact on the people and organisms around you.”

Looking ahead, the Planeteers are excited about what’s next. The club recently launched a zero-waste lunch initiative, encouraging students to bring reusable containers. They’re also exploring new projects, including a school garden and hands-on lessons that would teach students how to compost, cook, and grow food on campus. Seventh grader Johnny shared his hope to one day help create a small farming and cooking program at the school.

When asked what advice they’d give other middle school students who want to help the planet, the answers reflected the same values that guide their work every day.

“Even the smallest things you do can make the biggest change,” Cora said. Kaley, a seventh grader, added that getting involved helps you see the world differently, while Samer summed it up simply: “It all starts with an action.”

For the Planeteers at Westborough Middle School, how it feels to help save the planet isn’t something that can be summed up in one perfect word. It’s about showing up—together—and building something better, one small action at a time.