Dear Teachers and Staff,  

Hope you are well!

As the end of the school year approaches, please keep in mind doing sustainable, environmentally-friendly clean-outs of classrooms, offices, and lockers. Check out this awesome toolkit for ideas on how to “green-out” your lockers and more!

Congratulations to the following schools for winning the top three places in our annual spring “Go Green Challenge” Morse School – 1st Place; Tobin Montessori School – 2nd Place; Fletcher-Maynard Academy – 3rd Place. More information below.

Thank you for taking care of our planet!

Kristen Middleton
[email protected], 617.349.6856

Go Green Challenge 2017 Winners!
Congratulations to this year’s winners of the annual Go Green Challenge:

First Place – Morse School
Second Place – Tobin Montessori School
Third Place – Fletcher Maynard Academy

These schools had the greatest percentage of classrooms complete the Go Green Challenge worksheet and hang it outside their doors. Each school will be presented with a trophy made from recycled materials by Bobby Brown, a life-long Cambridge resident.

Thank you to all the classrooms that took a few minutes to check off the boxes on the Go Green Challenge worksheets and share the ways they are “green” in the classroom, and hang them proudly outside the classroom. Each participating classroom received pencils made from 100% recycled newspaper.

Teachers are still welcome – and encouraged – to fill out and hang the Go Green Challenge worksheet. Your efforts to be “green” in your classroom are greatly appreciated, and this is an opportunity to reflect, boast, and maybe even do a little more. Email Meryl at [email protected] to let her know your completed sheet has been hung up, and she’ll get the pencils for your class to you (include your school and room number in your email).

The Go Green Challenge is a collaboration between the School Department’s Office for Sustainability and the Department of Public Works. If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to contact CPS Sustainability Manager Kristen Middleton, [email protected] or DPW Recycling Program Manager Meryl Brott, [email protected].

Thanks again to everyone who participated in this year’s Challenge, and “Congratulations!” to the winning schools!



Upcoming Happenings
@ Fresh Pond Reservation 
–Mondays, May 15 & 22, 6-7:30pm Community Weed-Outs (garlic mustard removal in Butterfly Meadow and that general area, feel free to come a little earlier at 5:30)
–Every Tuesday, 9:30-1: Woodland Restoration Gardening
–Thursdays, 10-noon: Fresh Pond Stewards Wake Up & Weed
–Fridays, 10-11am: Kids Walks, meeting outdoors at the Gazebo!
–Sunday, May 21, 7:30-9:30am: Spring Bird Walk
–Fridays, May 26, 3:30-4:30: After-school Kids Walks
–Saturday, June 10, 2-4pm: "Reflecting on Fresh Pond" Art Open Mic

Call for Volunteers for Fresh Pond Day
Saturday, May 20th, 11AM-3PM 
Fresh Pond Reservation is truly Cambridge's green gem - an urban wild that protects Fresh Pond, Cambridge's in-city drinking water reservoir. Fresh Pond Day is the Cambridge Water Department's annual tribute to this unique Reservation that is a vital natural resource, an invaluable sanctuary for wildlife, and a beloved recreational escape in the City. So...let's give Fresh Pond the celebration, jubilation and love it deserves; join in the festivities! Live wildlife presentations, a wildlife and bike parade, live music, facepainting, truck climb-aboards, tours, and more will abound. Free and open to all, the festivities will take place in and around the Water Treatment Facility located at 250 Fresh Pond Parkway, Cambridge. Please note: rain or other inclement weather cancels this event.

We’ll need a hand with running a facepainting table, photography, helping to coordinate wildlife & bike parades, assisting tablers, set-up/take-down, & directing parking and traffic. As a thank-you for your help, you’ll receive a Fresh Pond t-shirt, water bottle, and refreshments! 2-hour or 4-hour shifts. Please email [email protected] or call (617) 349-6489 if you’re interested in volunteering.


Spring Showers Bring Limited Time Offer on Rain Barrels 
Capture the rainwater from your roof and store it in a rain barrel for later use in your garden. If rainwater is not captured and allowed to soak back into the ground, rivers and streams do not have the chance to sustain or "recharge" themselves. By capturing rainwater, you are reducing stormwater runoff, conserving water and recharging the groundwater. A 60-gallon rainwater collection system is available to employees and residents for $69. This offer is valid until May 27. To provide the lowest cost, the company is arranging for a general delivery of the rain barrels on Thursday, June 1, from 4:30 -7:00 pm, at Cambridge DPW yard, 147 Hampshire St. A local non-profit agency, Green Cambridge is offering to install rain barrels for Cambridge residents free of charge. If you prefer to install them yourself, the rain barrel arrives with simple instructions for fast and easy installation. For more information, to order online and to check out the design and variety of color options, visit The Great American Rain Barrel Company website and select “Massachusetts” and “Cambridge” under Shop Community Programs. You can also order by phone (800) 251-2352 toll free and specify the City of Cambridge promotion.

Cambridge Recycling News 
Waste reduction fights climate change! 42% of US greenhouse gas emissions are from materials management. Help us meet Cambridge’s waste reduction goals and stay informed with the monthly Cambridge recycling e-newsletter. Full of practical information, helpful tips, and fun events, this newsletter regularly receives compliments from the many Cambridge residents already subscribed! You can sign up quickly here >>