Two team leaders are selected from every classroom to help teach their peers. They meet with program coordinators twice a month and learn a lesson that they then bring back to their classrooms to share with the other students. Not only does this build confidence and bring out leadership abilities, it also takes the work load off of the teachers and staff. The team leaders are also responsible taking care of their classrooms’ recyclables as well as the school’s common areas and offices (work rooms, library, etc.).

 

The school provides a recycling center next to the playground for the community to drop off their recyclables. Right now, paper and aluminum cans are being accepted and we hope to accept more types of recyclables in the future. Tri-Lakes Disposal is providing the container and services at no charge and 100% of the money earned goes back into the Project Green Panther program. The recycling is making between $200 and $300 per month and so far the money has been used to buy recycling containers for the school and we have plans to provide environmentally friendly items such as automatic faucets, hand dryers, and compact fluorescent lighting. Our long term goal is to also provide some type of alternative energy for the school.

 

Project Green Panthers team leaders are also involved in projects around the community as well. Last year they teamed up with Home Depot to do an environmentally friendly school makeover and tree planting on Arbor Day. Home Depot provided all of the supplies and our team leaders provided the labor. Projects like these are not only beneficial to the community, they give the children a sense of pride and accomplishment.

 

We greatly appreciate the support of our school, our town, our community, and especially Tri Lakes Disposal for their generosity. This program is an important part of raising environmentally-conscious children and building the skills and habits that they will undoubtedly need in their futures.  It is surprising how few schools have this type of program. We have asked our students to be leaders and to set an example for other schools to follow, and they have made us all very proud!

 Neighborhood Recycling Center

 

• Aluminum Cans
• All white and colored paper
• Newspapers, including the inserts
• Coated paper (shiny)
• Envelopes (plastic windows and labels)
• Folders – manila, coated, colored, even if they have plastic tabs or metal strips
• Photocopy and typing paper any color
• Wire and plastic spirals
• Self adhesive notes (post-it)
• Computer printouts
• Adding machine tapes
• All correspondence including direct mail, advertisements, etc.
• Brochures and pamphlets
• Posters
• Magazines
• Receipts
• Legal pads, steno pads, and spiral
• Post-it Notes
• Scratch, message, and memo pads

• Tin or Steel Cans
• Carbon Paper
• Lunch bags
• Napkins and paper towels
• Tissue paper
• Candy wrappers
• Waxed paper 
• Paper plates and cups
• Cardboard
• Phonebooks
• Tape

• Staples
• Paper clips and clamps
• Notebooks
• Plastic tabs