Celebration!
Riderwood grabs every opportunity it can to hold big, school-wide events to celebrate, and learn about, being Green! Below is a list of our school-wide events with more detailed descriptions following:
Riderwood grabs every opportunity it can to hold big, school-wide events to celebrate, and learn about, being Green! Below is a list of our school-wide events with more detailed descriptions following:
- Annual Earth Week Activities
- Art Show 2014: "Art Goes Green"
- Green Team Bulletin Board
- Trash-Free Lunch Day Monthly Competition
- Environmental Announcements
- Environmental Song at Winter Concerts 2013
- Chippy the Chipmunk Author Visit
- Recycling Assemblies
Annual Earth Week Activities
Number of Students: Entire school
Date: April 2013 and annually thereafter
With the help of parent volunteers from the school's Green Team, each grade level participates in a unique environmental activity during Earth Week. The tradition started in 2013 and was such a success that it will be repeated every year.
Kindergarten and 5th grade -- The big kids partnered with the little kids to read environmental books together in the classroom, then headed outside for "litter patrol" on the playground. It was a fun way for the 5th graders to demonstrate their leadership and the kindergarteners to share their infectious enthusiasm! The pictures below show the partners on little patrol.
Number of Students: Entire school
Date: April 2013 and annually thereafter
With the help of parent volunteers from the school's Green Team, each grade level participates in a unique environmental activity during Earth Week. The tradition started in 2013 and was such a success that it will be repeated every year.
Kindergarten and 5th grade -- The big kids partnered with the little kids to read environmental books together in the classroom, then headed outside for "litter patrol" on the playground. It was a fun way for the 5th graders to demonstrate their leadership and the kindergarteners to share their infectious enthusiasm! The pictures below show the partners on little patrol.
1st Grade -- Students made "seed balls" for our new monarch waystation! Parent volunteers marched each homeroom out to the waystation and explained that the students needed to grow the appropriate plants for the monarch caterpillars and adult butterflies. Back in the classroom, the students used soil, clay, milkweed and joe pye weed seeds to make the seed balls, which were tossed into the garden the next day.
2nd Grade -- Environmental Chalk Art on the basketball courts! The 2nd grade teachers waited for a sunny day during Earth Week and set their classes loose on the basketball courts to create amazing messages about protecting our Earth.
3rd Grade -- Students inspired the community! A parent on the Green Team contacted Mars Supermarket to donate paper bags for the students to decorate with Earth Week messages in art class. Mars then distributed them to customers. (See Community Partnerships.)
4th Grade -- Anyone need a cloth napkin for their trash-free lunch? The 4th graders made their own in art class, thanks to the Green Team supplying the pre-cut fabric. Each student followed a template to divide the napkin into four sections: 1) favorite food that's grown in the earth; 2) a way that we can protect the planet; 3) favorite animal; and 4) favorite thing to do outside. As shown below, the kids were so proud of their unique designs.
Art Show 2014: "Art Goes Green"
Number of Students: Entire school
Date: April 29, 2014
Riderwood's annual Art Show is an amazing showcase of the student art created all year long under the tutelage of art teacher Candice Kirschnick. Using dramatic lighting and creative displays, Ms. Kirschnick and the Art Show Committee transform the hallways, cafeteria and gym into visual wonderlands for the hundreds of parents and other visitors to enjoy. To celebrate our Green School mission, the theme of this year's show is "Art Goes Green" and will star art projects created from recycled and repurposed materials, culminating in a 5th grade fashion show. Yes, the 5th graders are preparing for their moment on the runway by creating stunning outfits from juice pouches, candy wrappers, and chip bags! "Art Goes Green" is taking place after this Green School application is submitted, but much of the art work is completed. Here is just a sample of what will be displayed:
Number of Students: Entire school
Date: April 29, 2014
Riderwood's annual Art Show is an amazing showcase of the student art created all year long under the tutelage of art teacher Candice Kirschnick. Using dramatic lighting and creative displays, Ms. Kirschnick and the Art Show Committee transform the hallways, cafeteria and gym into visual wonderlands for the hundreds of parents and other visitors to enjoy. To celebrate our Green School mission, the theme of this year's show is "Art Goes Green" and will star art projects created from recycled and repurposed materials, culminating in a 5th grade fashion show. Yes, the 5th graders are preparing for their moment on the runway by creating stunning outfits from juice pouches, candy wrappers, and chip bags! "Art Goes Green" is taking place after this Green School application is submitted, but much of the art work is completed. Here is just a sample of what will be displayed:
Green Team Bulletin Board
Number of Students: Seen by entire school everyday
Date: Created in December 2012, updated as needed
One of the first priorities of the newly-formed Green Team in September 2012 was to designate a bulletin board in the front lobby of the school to publicize and celebrate Green School activities. Teresa Lebedda, a Riderwood paraeducator with an artistic flair, designed an eye-catching display entitled "It's Easy to be Green" that highlights our four BMPs and leaves plenty of room for pictures of the students learning about the environment every day. The kids love seeing themselves on the bulletin board!
Number of Students: Seen by entire school everyday
Date: Created in December 2012, updated as needed
One of the first priorities of the newly-formed Green Team in September 2012 was to designate a bulletin board in the front lobby of the school to publicize and celebrate Green School activities. Teresa Lebedda, a Riderwood paraeducator with an artistic flair, designed an eye-catching display entitled "It's Easy to be Green" that highlights our four BMPs and leaves plenty of room for pictures of the students learning about the environment every day. The kids love seeing themselves on the bulletin board!
Trash-Free Lunch Day Monthly Competition
Number of Students: Entire school
Date: April 2012, every month thereafter
If you want to see some fierce competition, come to Riderwood on the last Tuesday of each month to witness the Trash-Free Lunch Day Competition. Homerooms vie for the title of Trash-Free Champs -- a title which earns them the gaudy ribbon created from recycled materials, shown below -- by trying to have the highest percentage of kids be trash-free at lunch. (See BMP Solid Waste Reduction.)
What makes it a celebration is the hype on the announcements before and after the competition. On the morning announcements the day before the competition, representatives from the reigning classroom challenge the rest of the school to steal their coveted Trash-Free Ribbon. One teacher issued a challenge in the form of a parody of "Call Me Maybe", while another class not only double-dog-dared the school to steal their ribbon, they 24-dog-dared them. Here is that teacher's note to parents to show just how enthusiastic some teachers and students get:
Dear Families,
Well, they’ve asked me to promote trash free lunch day which is NEXT Friday, 4/26/13, so I’m putting the ducklings to the task.
We have to create some sort of stimulus for Thursday morning announcements.
Here’s what we’re going to do (I think):
Instead of triple dog daring the other classes to be 100% trash-free, we’re going to 24 dog dare them.
We’re making recycled dog noses and ears (egg cartons and pipe cleaners).
I’m going to do some “trash talking” with a few of the students. We’ll say things like, “juice boxes!” and “paper napkins!” in silly, fake-angry voices.
Hopefully we will use a flip cam in the classroom next Monday or Tuesday and we’ll air the best version, it will be less than a minute.
Whatever we do, I’ll post it to the wiki for your viewing pleasure.
Now, here’s what I’m asking from you…
Don’t make me look bad! Goodness knows I excel at that, all on my own.
I’m making next Thursday night’s homework pack a trash free lunch.
If we go on air and then lose, it will haunt me for minutes. Maybe hours.
You might not think so right now, but you are going to miss your child’s ridiculous kindergarten teacher!
That $100,000 degree in Theater and English is working out just great for me.
Thanks for your help,
Heather
J. Heather Buchman, Kindergarten Teacher
Then, after the competition, the kids wait with bated breath while our very animated announcer (the always-comical instrumental music teacher, Mr.Mueller), begins a countdown of the top four homerooms, making it sound like a competition of Olympic proportions. As each class is announced, screams and cheers are heard throughout the halls, culminating in the winning homeroom going crazy as the ribbon is hung on their door.
Click here for a typical announcement of the winning homeroom:
/uploads/1/8/1/3/18132917/tfld_winners_may_2013.doc
Number of Students: Entire school
Date: April 2012, every month thereafter
If you want to see some fierce competition, come to Riderwood on the last Tuesday of each month to witness the Trash-Free Lunch Day Competition. Homerooms vie for the title of Trash-Free Champs -- a title which earns them the gaudy ribbon created from recycled materials, shown below -- by trying to have the highest percentage of kids be trash-free at lunch. (See BMP Solid Waste Reduction.)
What makes it a celebration is the hype on the announcements before and after the competition. On the morning announcements the day before the competition, representatives from the reigning classroom challenge the rest of the school to steal their coveted Trash-Free Ribbon. One teacher issued a challenge in the form of a parody of "Call Me Maybe", while another class not only double-dog-dared the school to steal their ribbon, they 24-dog-dared them. Here is that teacher's note to parents to show just how enthusiastic some teachers and students get:
Dear Families,
Well, they’ve asked me to promote trash free lunch day which is NEXT Friday, 4/26/13, so I’m putting the ducklings to the task.
We have to create some sort of stimulus for Thursday morning announcements.
Here’s what we’re going to do (I think):
Instead of triple dog daring the other classes to be 100% trash-free, we’re going to 24 dog dare them.
We’re making recycled dog noses and ears (egg cartons and pipe cleaners).
I’m going to do some “trash talking” with a few of the students. We’ll say things like, “juice boxes!” and “paper napkins!” in silly, fake-angry voices.
Hopefully we will use a flip cam in the classroom next Monday or Tuesday and we’ll air the best version, it will be less than a minute.
Whatever we do, I’ll post it to the wiki for your viewing pleasure.
Now, here’s what I’m asking from you…
Don’t make me look bad! Goodness knows I excel at that, all on my own.
I’m making next Thursday night’s homework pack a trash free lunch.
If we go on air and then lose, it will haunt me for minutes. Maybe hours.
You might not think so right now, but you are going to miss your child’s ridiculous kindergarten teacher!
That $100,000 degree in Theater and English is working out just great for me.
Thanks for your help,
Heather
J. Heather Buchman, Kindergarten Teacher
Then, after the competition, the kids wait with bated breath while our very animated announcer (the always-comical instrumental music teacher, Mr.Mueller), begins a countdown of the top four homerooms, making it sound like a competition of Olympic proportions. As each class is announced, screams and cheers are heard throughout the halls, culminating in the winning homeroom going crazy as the ribbon is hung on their door.
Click here for a typical announcement of the winning homeroom:
/uploads/1/8/1/3/18132917/tfld_winners_may_2013.doc
Below are pictures of winning classrooms challenging the rest of the school to steal their ribbon on the morning announcements:
Environmental Announcements
Number of Students: Seen by entire school everyday
Date: Began Spring 2013, ongoing thereafter
The morning announcements keep the students focused on our Green School goals. Student reporters feature environmental words on their "Word of the Day" on Wednesdays, and staff and students on the Green Team are interviewed about our Green projects, as shown below:
Number of Students: Seen by entire school everyday
Date: Began Spring 2013, ongoing thereafter
The morning announcements keep the students focused on our Green School goals. Student reporters feature environmental words on their "Word of the Day" on Wednesdays, and staff and students on the Green Team are interviewed about our Green projects, as shown below:
Environmental Song at Winter Concerts 2013
Number of Students: Entire school
Date: December 2013
The hills were alive with the sounds of our Green School! Every grade performed the song "This Pretty Planet" in 3-part round at their Winter Concert in 2013. Vocal music teacher Michael Allman made a special announcement at the beginning of each concert that the Riderwood community has been working hard to become a Green School and "This Pretty Planet" teaches us to appreciate and protect Mother Earth.
Number of Students: Entire school
Date: December 2013
The hills were alive with the sounds of our Green School! Every grade performed the song "This Pretty Planet" in 3-part round at their Winter Concert in 2013. Vocal music teacher Michael Allman made a special announcement at the beginning of each concert that the Riderwood community has been working hard to become a Green School and "This Pretty Planet" teaches us to appreciate and protect Mother Earth.
Chippy the Chipmunk Author Visit
Number of Students: Entire school
Date: March 2013
The Literacy Committee provided another way to celebrate our Green School mission by inviting an accomplished wildlife photographer and author to the school for an assembly. Kathy Miller presented beautiful images of native birds and adorable close-ups of chipmunks in action in her own backyard, encouraging the students to get outside and explore. She gave students tips on photographing nature and using their observations to create stories and artwork.
Number of Students: Entire school
Date: March 2013
The Literacy Committee provided another way to celebrate our Green School mission by inviting an accomplished wildlife photographer and author to the school for an assembly. Kathy Miller presented beautiful images of native birds and adorable close-ups of chipmunks in action in her own backyard, encouraging the students to get outside and explore. She gave students tips on photographing nature and using their observations to create stories and artwork.
Recycling Assemblies
Number of Students: Entire school
Dates: Spring 2013, January 2014, other environmental assemblies to held annually thereafter
The PTA funded two very entertaining and informative assemblies about recycling and will continue to fund environmental-themed assemblies in the future. In Spring 2013, "Junkman" performed with his percussion instruments made from salvage yard materials:
Number of Students: Entire school
Dates: Spring 2013, January 2014, other environmental assemblies to held annually thereafter
The PTA funded two very entertaining and informative assemblies about recycling and will continue to fund environmental-themed assemblies in the future. In Spring 2013, "Junkman" performed with his percussion instruments made from salvage yard materials:
In January 2014, "Billy B" presented "Recycle Mania." Billy B sang, danced, and informed students about natural resources, landfills and the easiest ways to get everyone recycling.
Below are 3 outlines of his program and follow-up suggestions for the school:
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/uploads/1/8/1/3/18132917/gs_celebration_recycle_mania__class_acts_arts.webarchive
Below are 3 outlines of his program and follow-up suggestions for the school:
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/uploads/1/8/1/3/18132917/gs_celebration_recycle_mania__class_acts_arts.webarchive