The annual “Go Green Challenge” elementary school competition in the Cambridge Public Schools resulted in Morse School winning first place, announced Sustainability Manager, Kristen Middleton, on Friday, May 6th.
Pat Beggy, Morse School Principal said, “The Morse School is honored to have been chosen to receive first place recognition for the Go Green Challenge! We have been working very hard to have the whole community; the students, the teachers, the support staff, our kitchen and custodial teams as well as our after school and community school programs become more aware of the need to recycle, reuse and renew our resources. We need to heighten not just the awareness for the need to recycle but practice making changes in our lives.”
In second place was the Tobin Montessori School, followed by third place, Peabody School. “We are thrilled that we have won 2nd place in the annual Go Green Challenge! “ Said Jaime Frost, Tobin Montessori School’s Principal. “As part of our Tobin Montessori mission, we strive to cultivate resilient learners who together construct cooperative, caring communities. Learning about the world, beyond the walls of the classroom, is an integral part of our curriculum. We work to help students understand the crucial role they play in both caring for the environment and leading others to "go green." This year we have partnered with "e"-Inc. and our Fifth Grade, Student Green Team is leading our "going green" efforts here. It is exciting to see our students take action!”
All elementary schools across the district had the highest recorded participation overall, since the program began several years ago. The top three winners received a hand-made trophy designed and built by life-long Cambridge resident and artist Bobby Brown, who used recycled materials and attended the Cambridge Public Schools growing up, as well.
The competition is run in partnership with the School Department’s Office for Sustainability and the Department of Public Works, and encourages schools to “go green” by participating in a variety of environmentally-friendly activities and actions, such as reviewing how and why they compost; drawing posters to encourage recycling; using old materials to make something new; having a plant or animal in the classroom; turning off lights; having a blue recycling bin next to each trash can; and printing double-sided, among other actions. Classrooms have a worksheet that they fill out and hang outside their door recording these actions; the school with the highest percent participation wins. Meryl Brott, Recycling Program Manager, along with Middleton, worked closely with principals and teachers to give recycling workshops and to encourage environmental action among students this spring.
“We are very proud of the enthusiasm and energy that teachers, principals, custodians and students put into making this Challenge a success. The School Department’s yearly collaboration with the Department of Public Works continues to be a wonderful catalyst for encouraging environmental progress in our schools. Our teachers are hard-working and committed to inspiring their students to take on stewardship for the earth, and we are grateful for their yearly participation,” said Middleton.
Photos
Top: Morse School Principal Pat Beggy (Left), holding 1st Place Trophy for 2016 Go Green Challenge, with Kristen Middleton, CPSD Sustainability Manager (Right).
Bottom: Tobin Montessori School Principal Jaime Frost (Right) holding 2nd Place Trophy for 2016 Go Green Challenge, with student (Left).