2008 - 2009 Grant Winners
Freedom Montessori School, Rock Hill
Project Go Green @ Freedom Montessori
Project Go Green @ Freedom Montessori is a yearlong plan to reduce the school’s environmental footprint. The plan is made up of activities and actions to help reduce pollution and waste. All of Freedom Montessori’s students, from preschool through the second grade, are involved.
A large variety of items are recycled at the school. And, the classes walk downtown and collect recyclable items from many local businesses too.
Heathwood Hall Episcopal School, Columbia
Native Tree Alley
Fifth graders at Heathwood Hall Episcopal are using trees to improve their local environment in their Native Tree Alley. Trees help the environment by removing pollutants from the air and from stormwater runoff. Native trees are good to plant because they are able to survive well in the local climate. Native trees also provide food and shelter for local wildlife.
Students will create a brochure based on their study about trees and native vegetation. And they will present their findings to the school community.
L.E. Gable Middle School, Spartanburg
Green Bucks- Students Making a Difference
The Green Bucks - Students Making a Difference are doing something about plastic bag waste. These middle school students are making their own reusable shopping bags. The bags will be given to parents and community members.
The students plan to use recycled-content fabric if available. They will follow-up with those who receive the green bags to see how much of a difference they make.
Lowcountry Day School, Pawleys Island
Lowcountry Pond Outdoor Classroom
Improving water quality in the campus pond and creating an outdoor classroom are the two goals of Lowcountry Pond Outdoor Classroom for Pawleys Island Children. The project is a collaboration between twelfth graders from the upper school and fourth graders from the lower school.
The older students will test water quality in the pond. They will evaluate the areas around the pond and suggest ways to reduce runoff entering the pond. They will also clean up litter from in and around the pond and prepare the pond’s banks to be used for environmental education.
The fourth graders will find features of interest around the pond. With help from the twelfth graders they will make nature stops for students and people visiting the pond. Both groups of students will teach other grades at their school about the environment using what they learn working on the pond.
New Directions School, Columbia
Working together for a better tomorrow
Working together for a better tomorrow connects students at New Directions School to the environment. They grow plants and take care of the school’s nature space. The girls learn about the natural world for themselves. And, they share their knowledge with their schoolmates and parents.
This year the students want their campus to be a better habitat for wildlife. They have studied their garden to make sure it provides food and shelter for animals of many kinds –insects, butterflies, birds and others. And Students have asked the New Directions administration to not mow an area near a campus pond to protect that natural habitat for local wildlife
Congratulations to all our Champions. You can make a positive difference for our environment too. Check out the Doing Your Part page for some project ideas.