Students, staff and parents crowded Chelsea Street on Thursday, April 21, as they marched from the school to the Hawthorne Fire Department. Students wore hand-painted t-shirts and hats and carried signs that urged everyone to “Pick up the trash” and “Heal the Earth.”
The walk was a reminder to the school community to be eco-friendly. Principal Anne Stern said the school’s efforts to “go green” have included recycling bins for cans, paper and bottles.
Recently, the school’s PTA Go Green Committee hosted a “Waste-Free Lunch” to teach students that using reusable containers can help reduce waste.
The year-round effort to “reduce, reuse and recycle” culminated in the Green Walk and assembly where guest speakers reminded students and parents about the importance of saving our resources.
Mount Pleasant’s Town Engineer David A. Smyth talked about the importance of conserving water. The children learned that if they all shut off their faucets when brushing their teeth, in a year they would have saved enough water to fill the Mount Pleasant town pool.
Arborist Stacey Parthemore from “SavATree” explained how trees create oxygen, which helps the environment. Beekeeper Lynn Lucas explained the role of bees in pollinating plants and making honey.
Town Supervisor Carl Fulgenzi and county Legislator Margaret Cunzio also congratulated the school for its initiative. Cunzio then presented the school with an official proclamation designating April 21 as “Walk-the-Green-Walk Day” in Westchester County.
The celebration concluded with singing and dancing, led by Hawthorne Elementary School music teacher Claudia Grispin. Through song, the children reminded both themselves and those present that “we have to save our planet so we can live and grow.”
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