Green in Action Runner-Up
Dr. Thomas Esparza Elementary
Edinburg, Tx
This school year Dr. Esparza Elementary has established its very first Green Club and Recycling program headed by Miss Melissa De Leon. We currently have 54 students enrolled in our club ages ranging from 7 to 11 yrs. old.
Our greatest mission is to “Promote Earth Smart habits in our youth, our staff and the Community. In collaboration with the City of Edinburg Recycling Center we have set up 5-95 gallon bins and 2 folding clear stream containers in our school. We have also successful launched a paper and plastic collection as well as energy conservation measures to save electricity.
Starting in September, Green club members began collecting Recyclables School wide every Friday. As a result, we are the highest recycling elementary in the district and 2nd only to local high school. Before November break, we successful completed a pilot with a 1st grade class to gather data for our plastic launch. With that data we were able to kick off plastic recycling system for each classroom.
In conjunction we hosted 9 Earth Classes school wide to educate the students about conservation and good Earth habits. December 2014, we got district approval from Assistant Super-intendant Dr. Salinas to launch the 1st ever recycling program at the Administration building and District Technology department respectively. Since its inception several recycling bins are now found in the Board Room were hundreds of pounds of plastic have been collected.
In late March, our Green Club began collecting plastic lids for children with Cancer in Mexico and the U.S. Alianza AntiCáncer Infantíl, is an organization that helps pay for medical costs for young children with Cancer. In Mexico, this awareness campaign is called Tapa-Tón.
On April 25th we partook in an annual community event called Trash Bash hosted by the City of Edinburg and Valley Proud Environmental Council which promoted the states attention on litter reduction, recycling and solid waste management. All members of our staff participate in our recycling efforts including cafeteria personnel, teachers, students, librarians, self-contained units, nurse, coaches and parent volunteers and because of this collaborative work our little Green Club is a huge success!
The Green Club Currently Offers:
- Recycling boxes to all 46 classrooms, offices and staff on campus
- Paper and Plastic collection every Friday
- We provide Aluminum and Plastic Collection for Staff in the Teacher’s Lounge
- Promote Energy Conservation
- Plastic lids are collected for children with cancer.
- We host meetings every Friday from 7:15-7:40am
Recognitions:
The City of Edinburg Recycling Center has selected our Green Club to be showcased at the local Recycling Center in Downtown Edinburg in recognition for our efforts and success.
