The Green Page: News and Information from the RHPS Green Committee

Green News

RHPS is a Green School! RHPS is working this year to live up to its Green School designation by the State of Maryland! Please get involved! To join the Green Committee or for further information about any events or programs listed below, please contact Libby Nealis.

Spring Eco Challenge: Promise Trees

In anticipation of Earth Week, each student was given the opportunity to make an environmentally conscious “promise” to the Earth (e.g. "I promise to turn off lights when I am leaving a room.") and write or illustrate this promise on a decorated leaf. We are decorating the multiple “Promise Trees” around the school with the leaves. Children will walk past these trees as reminders of the promises they have made. You may have also seen one of these leaves come home. Please help your child continue in this spirit and keep their promise. You might even come up with some you can do together as a family.

Earth Day and Earth Week Celebration

Earth Day 2010 is April 22nd, but we will be celebrating Earth Week at RHPS all week long.

Students at Rosemary Hills will be participating in a variety of "Earth Friendly" activities, including class Scavenger Hunts. There will be different “Green” themed Spirit Days each day for the kids to dress up and get involved. There will also be assemblies to showcase the kindergartners' original songs, the 2nd graders' shadow puppets and plays, and the 1st graders’ Recycled Chairs – all Green-themed projects made with the Artist-in-Residence.

The PTA is also sponsoring events next week to raise everyone's awareness, including

School Beautification Day, April 17, 2010. We’ll be pulling the weeds to make room for more flowers and so that students and staff can enjoy this wonderful outdoor classroom. We are also preparing raised beds in the Media Courtyard for school-wide student planting projects. Come see the beautiful courtyards next time you are at the school!

TV-Turnoff Week The Green Committee will also be informing students and parents about TV Turnoff Week, which conveniently coincides with Earth Week, April 19th-25th. What can you do to help? Encourage your kids to turn off their TVs, computers, and video games and to replace their screen time with other activities -- maybe even enjoy the Earth outside!

Please make time to talk to your child(ren) about what important things they can do that makes a difference in protecting our Earth.

Trash-Free Tuesdays and Waste-Free Wednesdays

Reduce the amount of trash and waste that your children bring to school in their lunches. Consider using reusable food and drink containers, utensils, and napkins instead of disposable items. Facts and tips about our Trash-Free Lunch Program.

Trash-Free Lunch Fundraiser

Click through our RHPS PTA website to purchase your lunch boxes and waste-free lunch supplies, and reusablebags.com will give 5% of your sales to RHPS! Click on the link below.

Green Tip of the Month

BYOB – Bring Your Own Bag.... The plastic bag, introduced just over 25 years ago, is now being consumed at an estimated rate of 500 billion plastic bags annually, or almost 1 million bags per minute. Use reusable bags and do your part to eliminate thousands of plastic bags!