April 22nd marks the 41st anniversary of Earth Day and students and teachers from Cedarcreek Elementary in Canyon Country were determined to do their part.
In the morning Mr. Michael McNelis, a third grade teacher, stood at the front of the school handing out rubber gloves to his chirping students in advance of the clean-up. Keeping their hands sanitized was an important component as the kids raced to pick up desiccated orange peels, candy wrappers and sticky-sticky, plastic popsicle sleeves.
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Kasandra Ramirez, an 8-year-old in Miss Knox’s third grade class, proudly fanned out a handful of popsicle sleeves she’d rescued from under a bush. She then stuffed them into a garbage bag while trying to avoid having the reservoirs of blue liquid spill onto her clothes.
With his garbage bag held wide, Leizar Cortez a 9-year-old from Mr. McNelis’ class, gladly accepted the contributions of his fellow classmates, even if they turned out to be scooped up snails who’d clearly been minding their own business.
When questioned about the meaning of Earth Day Cortez proclaimed, “You have to pick up the trash.”
Ramirez chimed in, “…to help the earth.”
“If you don’t the earth is going to be smelly,” Cortez affirmed.
Mr. McNelis was quick to point out the educational standards that tie in with Earth Day including Science and Social Studies, “We’re currently learning about being a good citizen.”
“And about taking care of your community,” added Miss Nicole Knox, another 3rd grade teacher.
The Earth Day Network says the modern environmental movement began 41 years ago in response to a massive oil spill in Santa Barbara. The year was 1969 and then Senator Gaylord Nelson of Wisconsin decided to start a “national teach-in on the environment.” He took his inspiration from anti-war protests during the era and turned that energy towards stopping air and water pollution.
This year’s Earth Day theme is Billion Acts of Green® with the purpose of inspiring a billion acts of environmental service around the world.
The students, staff and faculty of Cedarcreek Elementary can be proud of adding their Earth Day efforts to the billion expected world wide.
For more information about Earth Day and a guide for parents and teachers to engage their children on environment preserving activities go to earthday.org.