Green Projects

This year, our school will be applying for its certification as a “Green School” by the State of Maryland. We currently conduct numerous green activities on campus, and the cumulative effect of our “Reduce, Reuse, & Recycle” program helps our environment. The teaching in our school of green ideas and green practices helps us be better stewards of our great planet.

GREEN TRIVIA:  Do you know how long it takes for a glass bottle to decompose in a landfill?

MARCH NEWS
The Horseshoe Crabs are almost ready to be released! The kindergartners have been raising horseshoe crabs this year through the Maryland Department of Natural Resources. Teacher and enthusiast Debbie Pittenger attended a workshop over the summer to learn the entire process from setting up the tank, keeping their environment just perfect for growth, and finally releasing them into the bay. The horseshoe crabs are set to be released in May during a school field trip to Sandy Point Park. It will take up to nine years to grow into the large shells we often see at beaches.

GREEN NEWS
Plans for the 3rd annual Earth Day celebration on our campus have started in earnest. Mark your calendar for Saturday, April 24, from 10 – 2pm. We will need your help to make this a success. We are looking for parents and students who want to make a difference in our efforts to become better stewards of the gifts God has given us. Please consider giving sometime before Earth Day or on the 24th itself. Many hands make light work! Middle School kids will be able to accrue St. Martin’s-in-the-Field Day School service hours for their school record.
There will be environmental groups and green companies on campus to help us learn more on making our neighborhood and beyond a prettier and healthier place to live. Fun activities for the kids will be available. The Green Passport returns this year for stamping at different booths. There will be recycled crayons for the kids and a flower-making craft station where they can make decorative flowers from plastic water bottles. The magician and green magic performer Joe Romano will be conducting his spectacular show to kids of all ages in Heck Hall. His show at school earlier this year was fantastic! Good food will also be available—let’s not forget cotton candy and lemon peppermint sticks.
Information on all these items and more will follow as plans are firmed up. If you know of a company that you think would be a good fit for this celebration or if you are interested in volunteering, e-mail Cristina Decker  at cristina.decker@comcast.net. Please note there is no “h” in cristina.
The new 2cy container seems to be filled to capacity on an almost daily basis. That is a great sign that everyone is doing their part to recycle in school. Poster boards made up of lunch recyclables (aka trash) are going up in the pre-school and elementary school to remind kids of how many things can be recycled. The best way for our parents to help is to send in “no trash” lunches. For example, instead of buying individually wrapped packages, consider buying in larger bags where you can then place some items in plastic containers that can be reused over and over again. Don’t overlook the savings you get when you buy in larger quantities.
Ways to show you care every day: 1. Create less garbage. Buy items with the least wrapping. 2. Save paper. Whenever possible use both sides not one. 3. Save water. Take short showers not baths. 4. Choose long lasting electric razors, not disposables. 5. Set up a compost heap for yard waste. 6. Buy reusable glasses and plates, not the throw-away kind. 7. Use rechargeable batteries. 8. Recycle cans, glass, paper & plastic. 9. Buy items that have the recycle symbol. 10. Repurpose items you already own. 11. Swap, donate, or give away instead of throwing away items you no longer need.

REDUCE EMISSIONS AT SCHOOL
Please consider turning off you car while waiting for the car pool line. This helps reduce car emissions and improve our air quality. Remember: “There is no Planet B”.

RECYCLE AND EARN MONEY FOR OUR SCHOOL
Recycle at school: Junk mail, newspaper, printer paper etc. and place in the yellow and green dumpster with the dog on it. This is located on the left going through the car pool line. This also helps to raise money for our school.
We are expanding our recycling of ink cartridges and cell phones to include office-type toner cartridges and laptops. (Information on drop-off location to follow.)

GREEN TRIVIA ANSWER: 1 million years. Recycling puts glass bottles to good use.