Every year, teachers from across Massachusetts join The Green Team to integrate environmental education and actions with their students. There many are Eco-Stars out there who do wonders in their school, and we are very grateful for the teachers and students who work to improve our environment. In the 2011-2012 school year, we were pleased to spotlight two inspiring schools.
Tri-County Schools, Easthampton, MA
Ms. Crescione’s 100 participating students were active in establishing their school’s gardens own Green Team program.
This has been a wonderful opportunity for our students of all ages to get connected with nature, the community, and how to make a difference in their local community. We have students that are composting and gardening at home now. It has truly been amazing to see the change in our school. Thank you so much.”
To commemorate their success, the participating students received our a grand prize: a gift card to a local garden center. We were told that the students enjoyed buying fruit trees with the prize, and the program has doubled in size since the year it started- now at over 70 students! Ms. Crescione says the students “continue every day to actively find ways to improve their environment.”
Our students come from very difficult backgrounds and struggle with day to day expectations. This program has created a way to step out of themselves and into a solution for something larger. We will not only continue to expand our program but are in the process of bringing other schools like ours on board with us. Thank you again for the time to acknowledge us.”
Ms. Crescione, Tri-County Schools
Congratulations to the Tri-County Schools Green Team on a great year!
Dennis Yarmouth Regional School District, South Yarmouth, MA
Facility Manager Sandra J. Cashen has been a big friend of ours in encouraging schools across her district to start recycling. Five schools received free recycling and composting equipment from The Green Team and drastically increased the recycling rate for their school district. Ms. Cashen started promoting The Green Team last year throughout her district.
Just wanted to thank you for allowing me to be a part of Green Team. I have been passing out the information to the groups that have been interested in my recycling efforts and it is taking off like wildfire. We have some great Teams working this year in our district but one of my most active is getting recognized at our school committee meeting! I am so proud of them!
Ms. Cashen, Dennis Yarmouth Regional School District
The 7th graders in her school participated in a locker clean-up, which resulted in the following items being recycled:
- 55 pounds – bottles and cans
- 495 pounds – paper and cardboard
- 38 pounds – clothes
- 115 pounds – notebooks and binders
and to be reused:
- 25 folders
- 12 binders
- 11 notebooks (some brand new)
- 2 reams of unopened lined paper
- 1 pack of unopened pens
- 1 locker rack
- 1 backpack
- 6 new pencil cases
Thank you, Ms. Cashen, for being such a recycling Champion for your School District!
Congratulations to both Eco-Stars and keep up the great work!
