Elementary School Students Win ‘Green Packs’ During Sixth Anniversary of National Green Week

Green Education Foundation (GEF) delivered the winner of its National Green Week contest its prizes on Friday, March 28, to the anticipation and enthusiasm that only elementary-aged students can supply. National Green Week, sponsored by Sprint, is the largest K-12 sustainability education campaign going with over 10,000 member schools participating globally.

The Green Week program is designed to empower school administrators and teachers to actively engage their students on the importance of environmental protection and sustainability through GEF’s free lesson plans, activities and audits. Participating schools and classrooms are encouraged to take advantage of these tools from February 3 through the end of Earth Month (April 30), during which time they can choose any week to be their Green Week. “By participating in Green Week, students learn how simple strategies such as turning off the water when brushing their teeth and implementing recycling programs at at school and home can make a difference in protecting our planets valuable resources,” says Victoria Waters, CEO Green Education Foundation (GEF). “Children are in the best position to impact the future of our environment by developing green behaviors that become lifelong habits.”

The Pell Elementary School, Newport, RI, won the Green Week Green Classroom Pledge contest, which calls on students to “pledge” to protect their classroom resources by incorporating simple habits such as turning off lights when leaving the class, using both sides of the paper for projects, and unplugging all electronics when not in use. All 38 of Pell’s Pre K – 4th grade classes signed the “pledge” making them the winners of this year’s national contest. 872 students and 40 teachers received Green Packs, which include: reusable shopping bags and water bottles, snack containers and I Play Green organic tee-shirts from GEF during this morning’s student assembly.

“The impact our students can make with these daily changes are incredible. It is vital for our students to recognize the importance of taking care of the planet we live on. Pell School has a mission to create lifelong environmental ambassador’s… It starts here and every little bit counts,” stated Donna Kelly, Kindergarten Teacher, Pell Elementary School.

GEF and Sprint share like-minded values regarding sustainability education and student empowerment where during the Green Week program educators and youth group leaders are encouraged to spend time with students discussing sustainability topics and exploring ways they can make a difference. Furthermore, by offering free sustainability lessons and teaching tools, the companies will equip educators with real-world applied learning models that connect science, technology, and math (STEM) education with the broader human concerns of environmental, economic, and social systems for use during Green Week and beyond.

“Sprint believes that a commitment to sustainability is a fundamental business value,” said Amy Hargroves, Director of Corporate Responsibility at Sprint. “One of the challenges Sprint and other companies face is ensuring that future business leaders recognize the importance of basic environmental principles. Green Education Foundation’s program helps address this need by providing web-based sustainability tools and training for both students and teachers. We are proud to be a part of this program and are thankful for the opportunity to work with GEF to expand their impact.”
Participants in Green Week select a sustainability theme to focus on in 2014. Each of GEF’s six themes includes all the free resources and tools necessary for a successful Green Week initiative. Sustainability themes include the Sustainable Water Challenge, Green Energy Challenge, Waste Reduction Challenge, I Ride Green, Green Building Program, and the Green Thumb Challenge.

Participants are encouraged to chronicle their Green Week initiatives to use as application for a GEF Green in Action award. Award winners are those schools, classrooms, or youth groups who have demonstrated their commitment, creativity, or passion for sustainability in their application. Winners receive $250 and will be featured in national news and on GEF’s website.

To join the largest K-12 sustainability education campaign, visit www.greeneducationfoundation.org and sign up for Green Week for free.

Green Education Foundation (GEF) is a non-profit organization committed to creating a sustainable future through education. Sustainability education provides educators with the real-world applied learning models that connect science, technology, and math education with the broader human concerns of environmental, economic, and social systems. GEF provides curriculum and resources to K-12 students and teachers worldwide with the goal of challenging them to think holistically and critically about global environmental concerns and solutions.

Become a member for free to gain full access to GEF’s comprehensive library of standards-based lessons and activities at www.greeneducationfoundation.org. Join the sustainability education conversation by following GEF on Twitter @greenedufdn and on Facebook at www.facebook.com/greenedufoundation.

Green Education Foundation
153 Washington Street
Walpole, MA 02032

This release was published on openPR.