Earth Force program kicks off at St. Peter School
In October, Kostoula Vallianos, Earth Force Program Manager, visited St. Peter Cchool and met with each class to help them plan and organize their own project. Later in the month she returned to the school to kick off the program. All students are participating in this program with their class projects.
First grade will be sponsoring a paper towel reduction project with a “Two Pump” Campaign designed to foster only “two” pumps of the paper towel dispenser in the bathrooms. This will be linked to their study of trees and understanding renewable and nonrenewable resources.
Grade two will focus on reducing art paper consumption by using leftover pieces when possible. They plan to chart the amount of paper conserved over the school year and find out how much money they saved the school with their project.
Third grade is focusing on energy conservation. In line with their study of where energy comes from, they will audit current energy use in the school (computers and lights) and begin a campaign to turn lights and computer off to conserve energy when not in use. Fourth grade is working to reduce lunchtime waste. They will study the “waste stream” and what happens when something is thrown away. Their school-wide campaign will include auditing the waste products and propose a “garbage-free” lunch day.
Fifth grade students are going to explore recycling options in the community. With input from the local government they will further their study of “closing the loop” to reduce waste in landfills and raise awareness for buying products made from recycled materials. Grade six will work on reducing waste and litter around the church and school grounds. They will study the underlying causes of littering and how to positively affect change in attitudes and actions concerning this behavior.
With continued support from the Earth Force representatives, the students all will have a hands-on, real-world opportunity to practice civic skills, acquire and understand environmental knowledge and develop the skills and motivation to become life-long leaders in addressing environmental issues.