Cambridge Students Recognized By Governor For Environmental Challenge Win

CAMBRIDGE, MA - Students from 66 schools in Massachusetts, including Cambridge, have received special recognition for outstanding environmental actions as members of the “Green Team,” a statewide environmental education program promoted by the Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs (EEA) and the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (MassDEP).

Andrew Peabody School Kindegarten students in Leslie Williams-Dunn's class were green team prize winners.

“I want to congratulate all the Green Team students, and thank the teachers for helping to generate that spark of interest and responsibility in protecting our natural resources,” said Governor Charles D. Baker in a statement. “Learning about environmental issues and promoting sustainable practices contributes to the greater good of everyone in the Commonwealth.”

“Massachusetts has many wonderful natural resources and the students of today will very soon be called upon to serve as the stewards of those resources tomorrow,” said Lieutenant Governor Karyn Polito in a statement. “We are proud to recognize Massachusetts schools, students and teachers who are working to have a positive impact on our environment.”

Students of any age can participate in the Green Team program, an initiative comprised of students who share the goals of reducing pollution and protecting the environment, a release said. Nearly 65,000 students in more than 346 classes at 314 schools joined the Green Team this past school year, a release said.

“Students who took the initiative to participate and volunteered to raise environmental awareness through Green Team activities deserve our thanks and congratulations,” said EEA Secretary Matthew Beaton in a statement. “Through the Green Team Program, we hope to instill in students knowledge of environmental issues and a desire to protect our natural world.”

Students took part in a range of activities, including:

· Expanding school recycling programs;

· Starting a compost pile using organic waste from the school cafeteria, and using the compost it generates to nourish a garden to grow vegetables;

· Making their school driveways “Idle-Free Zones;”

· Increasing energy efficiency in their schools and communities; and

· Reducing their carbon footprint at school and at home.

These activities incorporated class-room disciplines from the fields of science, engineering and mathematics to reading, writing and art, as well as other non-classroom, inter-related projects.

Participating classes were entered into a drawing for prizes, and 66 classes received prizes for their efforts (full listing below). Nineteen schools won grand prizes, and will receive school-wide performances by environmental educators Jack Golden, Peter O'Malley and Earthtunes, or gift cards to local garden centers for trees or garden supplies to further “green” their schools.

“Green Team members learn a good solid basis in environmental understanding, which they can always take with them or use as the basis for further study,” said MassDEP Commissioner Martin Suuberg. “Equally important is the need to thank the teachers, who channel all that youthful spirit into creativity in a way that helps these students move forward.”

Participating teachers also received a Green Team Kit containing classroom posters, lesson plans, recycling tips and access to a library of other resources. In addition, 86 schools received recycling equipment from the Green Team to initiate or expand school recycling programs. Fourteen schools received signs reading “Idle-Free Zone” from the Green Team that serve as a visual reminder to drivers to turn off their engines while waiting in the schoolyard.

Students at Dryden Veterans Memorial School in Springfield have been busy gardening. Second- and third-graders planted four fruit trees and planted vegetables and flowers. Third-graders also learned how to use both an outdoor compost bin and a worm bin.

“The school is greatly benefiting from our school garden as students are learning about where their food comes from and having so much fun doing it,” said Jessica Burt, a teacher at Dryden Veterans Memorial School. “They get so excited to get out and dig in the dirt, discover new creatures and learn how they all work together to help the plants grow.”

Students at Hawlemont Regional School in Charlemont have been working on reducing waste and composting. They even integrated this topic into math lessons by calculating the square footage of their dumpster. The students also turned their paper recycling into new paper to created bookmarks, seed packets, cards and gift tags.

Hull High School focused on reducing their plastic water bottle footprint this year with a “Think Outside the Bottle” campaign. This included sharing bottled water stats on informative water droplet signs around the school, a bottled-versus-tap taste test, and selling stainless steel water bottles with the school’s mascot on them.

Quinsigamond Elementary School in Worcester switched to plastic milk bottles in their cafeteria. Students empty the extra liquid from these bottles and recycle them. The school also held its third annual Recycled Art Contest, as well as its third annual electronics and metal recycling drive.

“We are moving one goal at a time towards reducing our carbon footprint as a school, and the mission of the club to conserve ecosystems is salient and spreading among the student body,” said Nina Marks of Lenox Memorial Middle and High School, Lenox.

Littleton Public School District was recognized with a national Green Ribbon Schools award from the U.S. Dept. of Education for their outstanding environmental achievements.

Statewide, more than 3,000 students pledged to protect the environment through some or all of the following:

· Reducing, reusing or recycling;

· Walking, biking, carpooling or taking public transportation;

· Making a commitment to conserve energy and water;

· Encouraging parents and others to take an idling-reduction pledge and turn off car engines while parked or waiting;

· Tracking the trash generated in their home for one month, and subtracting the amount of trash their family eliminated via recycling; and,

· Improving school recycling or composting programs, conserving energy at school, visiting recycling facilities, meeting with municipal officials, planting school gardens, seeking alternatives to styrofoam lunch trays, building water-powered fuel cell kit cars, and creating signs, posters, videos and web pages to raise environmental awareness in their school community.

All participating classes received Certificates of Recognition, “Trash Terminator” bookmarks or grand prizes such as a show by Jack Golden, entitled “Garbage is My Bag”; a recycling and conservation show by Peter O'Malley; an environmental concert by Earthtunes, or gift cards to a nearby garden center for plants or school gardening supplies. Other Green Team prizes included Green Team wrist bands, biodegradable corn resin and recycled tire key rings, information wheels, “Compost Matters” activity books, and pencils made from recycled denim or currency.

To learn more or to participate in The Green Team program next school year, teachers may signup on-line at: www.thegreenteam.org.