News
Barrow and Whitehead Road Elementary Become ACC Green Schools
Nov 4, 2005 by Cail Hammons
New county program recognizes environmental education in classroom
Barrow and Whitehead Road elementary schools have become Clarke County’s first Green Schools. The ACC Green School program began with the 2004-2005 academic year to recognize environmental education within Clarke County schools.
To be recognized as a Green School, at least five classrooms must participate in five educational activities that teach about the environment. The program, sponsored by several Athens-Clarke County government departments, provides resources to assist teachers with environmental education in their classrooms.
“One goal of the Green School program is to help make teaching about the environment easier for teachers,” explains Suki Janssen, the ACC recycling division education specialist. “The Green School program provides resources that can help teachers incorporate environmental education into their lessons.”
In addition to providing resources to teachers, Athens-Clarke staff offers in-class presentations about water education topics, recycling, or waste reduction. Classes can participate in a school-wide water audit to find sources of wasteful water use, place storm drain decals around their campus, or have a visits from local mascot characters like Keep Athens-Clarke Beautiful’s Bee-Bee Clean or the ACC Recycling Division?s recycling bin mascot.
“The kids love Bee-Bee,” says Stacee Farrell, executive director of Keep Athens-Clarke Beautiful. “Bee-Bee reads a story about litter reduction and visits with the students. He really helps promote environmental stewardship in a kid-friendly way.”
“I’m proud of our Green School status,” explains Brandis Hartsell, the gifted program instructor at Whitehead Road elementary. “Being a Green School indicates that our students, who represent future generations of adults, are learning and understanding what it means to be ecological thinkers.”
Green School program organizers will present Green School driveway signs to recognize both Barrow and Whitehead Road elementary schools. The signs will be presented during school assemblies later this month.
“This is an exciting start to the Green School program,” says Farrell. “We are looking forward to even greater participation in this current school year.”
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Media Contacts:
Cail Hammons (706) 613-3440 ext. 384
Stacee Farrell (706) 613-3501 ext. 312
Tagged: acc green schools, conservation, stormwater
