TOP FIVE
Court Yard Restoration
The courtyard at Deep Run was a place where students would pass and glance out the window to see a little sunlight. There wasn't much to see or appreciate. The Green Team took matters into their own hands and decided a cleanup was in order. An initial clean up day was one Saturday in the spring of 2017. Students came and helped clean out the weeds and dead plants. Over the next few months they worked to help plant Maryland natives throughout the courtyard. Each year more plants are added. Our courtyard is an attraction for students, staff, and visitors including humans, bees, caterpillars, butterflies, and even a turtle . On nice days you can see children helping to keep our beautiful courtyard healthy. We also have two amazing parents who come many Friday afternoons with their children to be sure that all of the hard work never becomes overgrown with weeds again.
The courtyard at Deep Run was a place where students would pass and glance out the window to see a little sunlight. There wasn't much to see or appreciate. The Green Team took matters into their own hands and decided a cleanup was in order. An initial clean up day was one Saturday in the spring of 2017. Students came and helped clean out the weeds and dead plants. Over the next few months they worked to help plant Maryland natives throughout the courtyard. Each year more plants are added. Our courtyard is an attraction for students, staff, and visitors including humans, bees, caterpillars, butterflies, and even a turtle . On nice days you can see children helping to keep our beautiful courtyard healthy. We also have two amazing parents who come many Friday afternoons with their children to be sure that all of the hard work never becomes overgrown with weeds again.
Toy Swap
Our school wanted to make a difference. Students were challenged to clean out their toys and donate any gently used ones that could be passed on to another child. We then held a give away-night where our Deep Run community came and picked out the items they wanted. Many students put a lot of though into what they were going to bring home. Many planned holiday gifts for siblings or cousins. A student was even spotted later in the evening out shopping with her "new" bag.
Our school wanted to make a difference. Students were challenged to clean out their toys and donate any gently used ones that could be passed on to another child. We then held a give away-night where our Deep Run community came and picked out the items they wanted. Many students put a lot of though into what they were going to bring home. Many planned holiday gifts for siblings or cousins. A student was even spotted later in the evening out shopping with her "new" bag.
Student Green Team Crayon Initiative Project
During the 2019-2020 school year, Miss Mackenzie Yee at DRES discovered a program called the Crayon Initiative. The Crayon Initiative collects donated crayons from restaurants, schools and homes across the country, then melts them down and remanufactures them, reducing waste. The recycled crayons are distributed to art programs at children’s hospitals across the U.S. At the time, students at DRES already recycled markers for the Crayola Color Cycle. The Crayola Color Cycle utilizes recycled markers to create renewable energy. It was decided that while students are already recycling markers, they can also recycle crayons! A group of 5th grade helpers were given this responsibility. First, they placed bins around the school. A bin was put into each grade-level pod where students placed unused and broken crayons when they came available. Two Thursdays out of each month, the group of 5th grade helpers used their recess time to gather the crayons. In June 2020, the box of recycled crayons was shipped out. Our students recycled 20 pounds of crayons which were sorted, melted, and donated to children’s hospitals across America.
Find more information about this movement here: The Crayon Initiative
During the 2019-2020 school year, Miss Mackenzie Yee at DRES discovered a program called the Crayon Initiative. The Crayon Initiative collects donated crayons from restaurants, schools and homes across the country, then melts them down and remanufactures them, reducing waste. The recycled crayons are distributed to art programs at children’s hospitals across the U.S. At the time, students at DRES already recycled markers for the Crayola Color Cycle. The Crayola Color Cycle utilizes recycled markers to create renewable energy. It was decided that while students are already recycling markers, they can also recycle crayons! A group of 5th grade helpers were given this responsibility. First, they placed bins around the school. A bin was put into each grade-level pod where students placed unused and broken crayons when they came available. Two Thursdays out of each month, the group of 5th grade helpers used their recess time to gather the crayons. In June 2020, the box of recycled crayons was shipped out. Our students recycled 20 pounds of crayons which were sorted, melted, and donated to children’s hospitals across America.
Find more information about this movement here: The Crayon Initiative
School Assemblies/PTA Partnership
Our Parent Teacher Association at DRES is committed to our Green School initiatives. Each year they fund an environmentally focused assembly. For these assemblies, we seek learning experiences for grades PreK-5th that will build upon their environmental knowledge-base as well as bring unique experiences directly to our students. The assemblies we've held during the past few years have been highly engaging and postive experiences for our students. Examples of these assemblies includes Go Green Science and Eric Energy.
Our Parent Teacher Association at DRES is committed to our Green School initiatives. Each year they fund an environmentally focused assembly. For these assemblies, we seek learning experiences for grades PreK-5th that will build upon their environmental knowledge-base as well as bring unique experiences directly to our students. The assemblies we've held during the past few years have been highly engaging and postive experiences for our students. Examples of these assemblies includes Go Green Science and Eric Energy.
Virtual Weeks of Green Habits
The 2020-2021 school year provided unique ways to "think green" for DRES. In order to keep our Green School spirit thriving the Green School Committee developed ways to engage students with Green School initiatives in their home environments while school was fully virtual. We held Green School virtual weeks. They included: Energy Conservation Week, Healthy School Environment Week, as well as Water Conservation and Pollution Prevention Week. During these times students engaged in activities to support and learn environmentally conscience practices. For example, during Energy Conservation week students worked on a virtual scavenger hunt, "Saving Energy Hunt", created with PearDeck by our P.E. teacher to learn how to conserve energy in their home. Students sent in their photos, videos, and artifacts from the weeks of activities to share thier learning with their teachers and the Green School Team. It was a powerful and effective way to bring our Green School philosophy into a virtual school environment.
The 2020-2021 school year provided unique ways to "think green" for DRES. In order to keep our Green School spirit thriving the Green School Committee developed ways to engage students with Green School initiatives in their home environments while school was fully virtual. We held Green School virtual weeks. They included: Energy Conservation Week, Healthy School Environment Week, as well as Water Conservation and Pollution Prevention Week. During these times students engaged in activities to support and learn environmentally conscience practices. For example, during Energy Conservation week students worked on a virtual scavenger hunt, "Saving Energy Hunt", created with PearDeck by our P.E. teacher to learn how to conserve energy in their home. Students sent in their photos, videos, and artifacts from the weeks of activities to share thier learning with their teachers and the Green School Team. It was a powerful and effective way to bring our Green School philosophy into a virtual school environment.