The Green Pages
An Earth School Publication, June 2008, Issue 2
Earth School Wins 2 Awards!!!
The Earth School was awarded a Golden Apple Award and a Golden Shovel Trophy (totaling $4000) by the Department of Sanitation for our work in reducing waste and composting. We submitted a binder describing our efforts to reduce waste in our community. The Plastics Project, our schoolwide composting, Patrice's Tee-Bags, our Earth Studies and Community Health programs, and classroom efforts to reduce, reuse, and recycle were some of the items that were documented. Congratulations to everyone!!! We did it together!In the Garden
The Garden Committee meets on Friday half-days at drop off. At our April meeting, the Committee planned the May work day to carry out some of the maintenance and improvement projects that have been in the works for some time. One was to install reed fencing on the inside of the chain link fence. The attractive reed fence covering will cut down on litter that blows into the garden as well providing more shade to cafeteria and classroom. Another project was the repair and upgrade of our irrigation system. Shalu's class worked with the Committee gardeners to plant lots of vegetable and flower seedlings that were donated by the Trust for Public Land. Thanks to all who participated and to the PA for their support!!
Alternative Transportation Study?
The third graders have been considering greener forms of transportation. They have imagined cars of the future that take in carbon dioxide and produce oxygen, water-fueled cars, and cars that run on potatoes! They also turned their efforts to designing "Puff Mobiles"— miniature cars that move by blowing on them! Let the races begin!
"No bag, please!" a Huge Success
By working together to reduce our use of disposable plastic shopping bags, the Earth School Community was able to save over 3000 bags from entering the waste stream!!! When one young person said, "No bag, please" at a nearby store, the cashier was overheard commenting, "Oh, they must be from The Earth School." To celebrate our success, we have adopted a sea turtle. We are awaiting news on the newest reptile in our family!! Stay tuned and keep up the good work!
Green Cooking C.O.W. Club
Third graders joined Abbe for some "green cooking." In a lesson on seasonal foods, the kids made sautéed fiddlehead ferns and rhubarb compote. Mmmm….
Free Advice
After their study of global warming, here's what the 4th and 5th graders recommend:
• Recycle and Reuse
• Don't litter!
• Use less electricity.
• Eat real food!
• Work with your hands!
• Use heat and AC only when you really need it.
• Turn off lights when you leave the room.
• Don't waste paper. Use the other side.
• Use a cloth bag instead of plastic.
• Plant more trees.
• Ride your bike to school or work.
• Things we don't need: plastic water and juice bottles, plastic toys and containers, plastic bags.
• Less driving!
• Turn off tv, computer, heaters, etc. when you are done using them.
• Bring metal spoons instead of using school "sporks."
• Unplug electrical appliances when not in use.
• Use a warm sweater instead of turning up the heat.
• Instead of tv news, read a newspaper.
• Replace your light bulbs with florescent.
