Mendham Township Elementary School Green Day Honored

MENDHAM, NJ - Every quarter Sustainable Jersey publishes inspiring stories from different New Jersey communities, and recently they threw a spotlight on Mendham Township Elementary School Green Day.

On the day of the event, the traditional curriculum is suspended as the school immerses itself in a day filled with an extensive list of activities.

"We have a special day to celebrate our sustainability efforts school-wide. This year's theme is energy conservation. A lot of energy is used during the winter to heat houses, provide lighting, power networking access and devices for distance learning," Grade 3 teacher Erica Parke said. "The topic is especially timely."

The event included Tanya Sulikowski, from Merrill Creek Reservoir, who presented live animals via a remote connection. Allison Mulch of Eco-Schools and Emily Wilmoth of New Jersey Audubon covered energy conservation with the students. The school also works to enhance their students' educational experiences by incorporating them within a Social Emotional Learning (SEL) framework.

"The event puts a spotlight on the topic of sustainability during a time of the year when it feels like nature is dormant," Mendham Township Elementary School Green Team leader and Media Specialist Tracy Newton said. "It ignites a sense of high-energy for the students and faculty."

Mendham Township Elementary School is certified with Sustainable Jersey for Schools and is working toward achieving the higher level silver certification.

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