[ back ]
The 'greener' (and bluer) the better
(by Kathryn A. Burger - April 23, 2008)
Photos Courtesy Of Meryl Wolf
At right, ‘Reuse the Recycle Robot’ was created by Roberge fifth-graders Haley Schaumberger and Stefanie Bifulco. Above is Woodside fourth-grader Zack Terzini’s golden robot.
|
Art projects, skits, a relay race and a quiz bowl – sounds like the makings of a fun day for elementary school students. And it was, but the best part is that while they were having all that fun, they were also learning about the importance of recycling.
Helping to make Woodside and Roberge schools “greener” through innovative programs and activities is Meryl Wolf, the district’s supplemental and gifted education teacher. “Through the program, Woodside and Roberge are taking a crucial step in the effort to make our schools ‘greener.’ Students and staff are removing paper, bottles and cans from the waste stream. At the same time, the students are learning valuable lessons about protecting the environment as they get hands-on recycling experience right in their classrooms and lunchroom,” Wolf said.
The kick-off for the efforts had the fourth-graders in both schools performing a skit for the kindergarten through second-graders, and showing a PowerPoint presentation, running a recycling relay race and quiz for students in grades three to five.
Wolf said during the initial three weeks of the program, the school’s in-classroom announcement system was used to good effect. “We played a recycle ‘rap’ over the loudspeaker and announced recycling facts along with our progress.” To chart each school’s progress, the students used a large poster for the hallway. The Woodside one featured a drawing of the
Western Hemisphere and the slogan, “Let’s keep earth blue and green.” The Roberge poster featured the familiar green recycling logo of three arrows in the shape of a circle and a drawing of the
Western Hemisphere . These visual displays were created by each school’s art teacher – John Garretson at Woodside, and Sean Smith at Roberge. Each drawing was gradually colored in – blue water and green earth – as more and more recycled materials were collected.
In addition to these activities, Wolf said, “all the students were encouraged to create a recycled art sculpture. They were all displayed for several weeks and also were on exhibit during the district’s science fair. Winners in each grade were chosen and received a prize donated by our sponsor, Buldo Brothers Sanitation, Inc.” The importance of recycling is also a part of the character program on being good citizens.
Wolf acknowledges with thanks the participation of many people who have made recycling at the schools so successful. “A team of key personnel, including Jim Tis, the principal at Roberge and Allen Spatola, principal at Woodside, the district’s head of building and grounds, Ken Petersen, and the custodians are all working with us. In less than three weeks we had recycled just under 1,500 pounds of paper in the two schools and about 12 bags of plastic bottles.”
In summing up the importance of recycling and the success of the program, Wolf said, “It’s up to today’s kids to make a difference. We think that Roberge and Woodside students are up to the challenge. We are making the earth a greener place to live!”
Kathryn A. Burger's e-mail address is burger@northjersey.com.
[ back ]
