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Putnam Valley Middle School is Going Green
On Wednesday, December 13, Putnam Valley Middle School (PVMS) held a Sixth Grade Community Meeting with students, faculty, and invited guests. This meeting was organized by Middle School Principal, Edward Hallisey, to kick off the Middle School’s Go Green Initiative. Invited guests included Walt Thompson of Keep Putnam Beautiful; Sam Davis, Supervisor of the Town of Putnam Valley; and Putnam Valley Board of Education Trustee (and former PV teacher) Frank Reale.
Three longtime PVMS teachers who make up the math and science team for the sixth grade are the faculty coordinators for the Go Green Initiative: Ms. Karen Brothers, who advises the Go Green Club; Ms. Mary Kay Cohen, who advises the Recycling Club; and Mr. Gerry Carlin. They are teaching their students about recycling, sustainability, and the economics of both. The morning program, which was repeated throughout the day for all four grade levels at PVMS, included a student-produced PowerPoint presentation on the Go Green initiative, explaining why recycling and conservation are important.
The presentation touched on issues such as the cost savings that result from reusing and recycling, the need to conserve land as the earth’s population continues to expand exponentially, and the benefits of “starting small.” In his presentation, Mr. Thompson urged students to do what they can, because even the smallest act of conservation can make a difference.
In follow-up discussions, students were asked for ideas on ways that energy and other resources could be conserved both at home and at school. As part of a Go Green kickoff program during next week’s schoolwide Spirit Week, all four grade levels will compete for a grade-wide prize—possibilities are a movie in the PVHS Performing Arts Center or an afternoon at Putnam Valley Town Park—by trying to produce the least amount of lunch time waste. Cafeteria staff will determine the winner by checking the amount of trash produced after each lunch period.
According to Mr. Thompson, “As students learn more about the benefits of recycling and sustainability, savings will be increased and roadside litter will be reduced. This will help us have a safer, cleaner and greener Putnam County.” The Putnam County Recycling Department is currently taking the school’s paper and newspapers to the County’s recycling center in Carmel for free. This program will be expanded to include cardboard and comingled
cans and plastic. By increased recycling, the waste hauler’s costs to the district should be reduced.
At the end of the program, Mr. Thompson presented a 5’ X 2' “check” for $400 to the school. This represented the funds that PVMS received from their www.nysar3.org grant. PVMS received a grant from www.nysar3.org to help pay for classroom recycling bins. In order to qualify for the money, they simply had to join (free) the www.gogreeninitiative.org (GGI). This nationwide organization is supported by the New York State PTA.
There are 41 GGI schools in New York State. H. H. Wells Middle School in Brewster is the only other GGI member school in Putnam County to date. Each school within all districts in New York State can apply for up to $500 from www.nysar3.org. These funds can be used for any program that supports reduction, reuse or recycling.” More information is available at www.nysar3.org.
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