A belated yet heartfelt thank you for all who helped our school’s Earth Day celebration be a huge success: Howsers IGA, Oleruds, Alaska Outdoor Science School, Mountain Market, Takshanuk Water Council, Chilkat Bakery, Haines Brewery, Lutak Lumber, Talia’s Consignment, Haines Friends of Recycling, Haines Police Dept., Marie Boisvert, Renee Hoffman, Nic Wilde and Patty Brown. With all of your help and encouragement, we had many leading activities building up to our community cleanup on April 30.
Then, with the “Spirit Contest” on that day, students used only reusable or re-purposed bags and zero yellow bags, contributing less plastic to the landfill than ever before! Some students used their own gloves for the pickup, and much of what was brought in was already sorted for recycling.
The second grade class won the spirit contest hands-down, picking up twice, making up a cheer, entering the poster contest, and starting a club to pick up monthly. They won a rafting trip for the whole class with Alaska Outdoor Science School with Scott Ramsey. The rest of the classes had their names put in a hat, based on how much “spirit” was observed on pickup day, April 30. The tenth grade won pizza for their class by this drawing; the eighth grade won a trip to the bakery from it. Then, after all their hard work, students were able to enjoy a hand-scooped ice cream cone, again creating “zero waste.”
Thank you, Mrs. Rene Martin, Mrs. Kim Sundberg, students, teachers and community; and remember that every day is Earth Day! Keep being the change!
Joan Degen