Southdown's Colorful
Earth Day Celebration
Michelle Marino had an idea and whenever that happens, there is no stopping the Southdown School principal. She's a force to be reckoned with, especially when it comes to creating learning opportunities for the youngsters in her building.
"The children have been learning about and practicing recycling, reducing and reusing throughout the year," Mrs. Marino said. "It becomes especially meaningful around Earth Day."
The first Earth Day is traced to April 22, 1970 when about 20 million people across the United States participated in environmental teach-ins and related activities. This year it is estimated that more than a billion people in 192 countries celebrated Earth Day in their respective communities by doing their part to help save the increasingly fragile environment.
Southdown's students commemorated Earth Day in their own special way this year, displaying artistic flair by participating in an installation art project of a garden of flowers, made from recycled materials.
"All of the grades got involved and they 'planted' more than 100 blooms made from old plastic bottles, flip-flops, wrapping paper tubes, straws, chop sticks and more," Mrs. Marino said. "The children were excited to make their flower and thrilled with the finished garden."
When Southdown's students get excited about something, they rival Mrs. Marino's energy and enthusiasm. Add in its teachers and staff, who stop at nothing while nurturing students along the educational trail, and the school is a hotbed of learning.
"The garden project was a fun way to help students to think creatively to reuse materials that produce a beautiful and often whimsical flower," Mrs. Marino said. "Although each flower was unique, together they made a feast for the eyes."