Teachers and students of all grade levels at Spring Hill Elementary sign up to pick up litter and recycling around the school. Photo Contributed
Over the summer months, Spring Hill Elementary School and grounds saw a transformation. Eleven Crepe Myrtle trees were planted to provide shade and habitats, the courtyard was redone (two resident box turtles and many frogs are thrilled with their new home), and the lawn and garden in front of the school building were weeded and trimmed to welcome students, parents and staff back to school. The two playgrounds received new mulch, trees were pruned near neighboring homes, and a new breezeway was installed to protect students from inclement weather. Because students were so thrilled with the positive changes, Carolyn Ferek, a third grade teacher, decided to get the students involved in taking ownership of keeping the school and grounds looking beautiful. She formed the Litter Brigade. Teachers and students of all grade levels sign up with Mrs. Ferek to pick up litter and recycling around the facility. With nearly one thousand students, that is no easy task. Teachers can go out as frequently as their busy schedules allow. Students enjoy being outside and love to keep the grounds looking nice. They are taking ownership of the place where they spend so many hours each week. By having students participate in this activity, they become more aware of their environment; they see how much litter can be recycled and how much is trash. They are made aware of the bad habits of some citizens. With this information, they are able to reduce the amount of trash they have at home and to recycle what they can. This is a win-win for students and for Spring Hill Elementary School.