Royal Palm Beach Elementary School has been recognized as a “Green School of Quality.” This year was the school’s initial attempt to become a Green School through the FAU Pine Jog Environmental Program. The school will receive its recognition during a May 25 awards luncheon.
RPBES Bobcats have been doing many green activities for years, but this year, the programs were extended and added to with new green initiatives.
In addition to the school garden and major beautification project that began last September, RPBES had already been recycling plastic caps, buttons and paper for local organizations. The Bobcats participated in an expanded version of the recycling program and other additional projects. The school has continued collecting plastic caps for Caps of Love, but has added metal pull-tabs to the collection. There are now six stations at the school to collect water bottles and caps. School staff, students and parent volunteers collect the water bottles on a rotating basis.
Each teacher has posted colorful reminders in their classrooms to turn off electronic devices when not in use. There was also a school-wide bumper sticker contest to encourage saving water. The winning bumper sticker from each grade will be displayed by the water fountains in each classroom of that grade level.
The Bobcats continue to be one of the area’s biggest donors to Relay for Life. The school shows its support to other organizations that help people in need through participating in Pennies for Patients, Race for the Cure, the Autism Walk and Hugs & Kisses. It recently held its first community clothing drive, which helped to fund the safety patrol trip to Washington, D.C.
Teachers at RPBES include many healthy activities and use recycled materials in their curriculum. For example, there is a large runners club, Jump Rope for Heart Day, the SMILE Garden, SECME and the Science Cats, which all emphasize helping the environment. Many second graders have been given GeoPalz step trackers through a grant awarded to one of the second-grade teachers.
“Going Green” this year has been fun, educational and valued as an important part of the school. The Green Team, made up of teachers, administrators, parent volunteers and a fifth-grade student, helped RPBES to receive the honor of being recognized as a “Green School of Quality.”
ABOVE: Safety patrol members collect water bottles for recycling.
