ASKTHETEACHER GOING GREEN! ENERGY MATTERS BY amy benoit Editor's Note: This is the third of a three-part series on recycling & Massachusetts schools efforts to be Green. This part focuses on public schools in the Bay State. Considering the old saying, if you want something done … ask a busy person, students and staff at Bourne Middle School must be pretty busy. Thanks to teacher Peggy McEvoy, Energy Savers, an idea that began as an on-site after school program, is now a nationally-recognized energy saving module for schools. Currently an assistant principal in the Barnstable Public School System, McEvoy now entrusts Energy Savers to Bourne Middle School's sixth grade science teacher Cindy McCann and fifth grade special education teacher Laura Perry to take over where she left off. "Our group focus is to help educate staff, students, and members of the community about ways we can work to improve our Earth and conserve energy," said McCann. Through the sponsorship of the Cape Light Compact and assistance from its educational liaison Debbie Fitton, Energy Savers host "turn in" events to educate homeowners about trading ineffective appliances, such as air conditioners and refrigerators, for more energy efficient models. Student members also promote the benefits of using CFLbulbs. They also sell them to raise funds. One challenge of the program encouraged Bourne Middle homerooms to collect plastic grocery bags. Surpassing everyone's expectations, this 10-day event yielded more than 27,000 bags! In 2007, The Massachusetts Secondary School Administrators Association recognized Energy Savers' co- presidents Benjamin Haskell and Michael Doyle for exemplary efforts and community service. "Everyone in the group is serious about what we are doing," said seventh grader Haskell, "One of the best things is the support from the students… and how much they care." "We have a lot of fun working with the other kids in the group," added Doyle. Both boys have expressed a desire to continue their work, perhaps by creating a similar program, when they enter high school. Equally impressive, the school's annual Energy Expo invites younger students from the area to learn more about solar energy, hydrogen fuel cell cars, bio diesel fuel, wind turbines, energy transmission, and kinetic and potential energy. "The expo consists of various stations," McCann explained, "…Each station has demonstrations and presentations on various topics related to energy and the environment." For example, sixth graders created a station displaying art made from the collected plastic grocery bags, she said. Evidence that recycling is not 'all work and no play,' students helped plan a party in honor of the school's solar panel. "We celebrated the first birthday of it being installed on the roof of our school," said Perry. Energy Savers created a giant invitation listing facts about the energy produced by the panel during its first year. "The cafeteria made cakes and we served all the students a piece of birthday cake," said McCann. "Presently we are creating a big book to read to elementary school children," said Perry, "about 10 simple things they can do to help our Earth." Students came up with the idea for mascot Clemmy the Cape Cod Climate Clam to narrate the story. Other "bright ideas" this year at Bourne Middle School include creating an Energy Savers Web page and sponsoring an additional Energy Expo. CALLING ALL RECYCLERS According to the Paper Industry Association Council : • "By 2012, the paper industry hopes to recover 55% of the paper Americans consume." • "Everyday, American businesses use enough paper to circle the globe 20 times!" • "Every ton of paper that is recovered saves 3.3 cubic yards of landfill space." Principal Larry Taglieri of the Broad Meadows Middle School in Quincy is excited about the upcoming districtwide initiative to collect and recycle used phone books. "…Just think of all the space in the landfills that will be saved," he said. Over the years, staff member Donna Willoughby spearheaded a "dual victory" recycling effort, Taglieri said, by encouraging students, teachers and community members to collect pulltabs from beverage containers. "These tabs are a high grade of aluminum and are turned over to the Shriners Burn Institute, who turn them in to be recycled," he said. "They (Shriners) are compensated…and the money is used to benefit the work they do." Other schools participate in green efforts, too. Several thousand youths from nearly 100 countries are members of Roots and Shoots, the global network founded in 1991 by Dr. Jane Goodall. With The Power of Youth is Global! as its motto, this organization provides volunteer opportunities for like-minded, worldconscious youth. Working with adult leaders, members improve communities through service projects and humanitarian efforts. Past Roots and Shoots Club projects at Wayland Middle School included collecting funds and necessities for the Buddy Dog Wish List and Save a Dog Supply Drive. To access information about joining or creating a group, visit www.roots andshoots.org/aboutus/. Amy Benoit is a Massachusetts-based freelance writer.