Sharbot Lake Public School Students Pitch In For Earth Day

Apr 25, 2013

On April 22, after donning blue gloves and with garbage bags in hand, bands of students from Sharbot Lake Public school spread out through the village of Sharbot Lake and did their fair share of garbage gathering in a special community clean up event in celebration of Earth Day.

The event was organized by SLPS teacher Danielle Harding who teaches the grade 3/4 class at the school. The students from grades one through six were divided into multi-aged groups led by older students and were supervised by staff and volunteers. The groups fanned out through the community and picked up trash and recyclables that were gathered at designated spots and were later collected by township staff. Harding said that the event, which has been running for years at the school, is a great opportunity for students to pitch in and help to keep the community clean.

“The students get a sense of the importance of keeping their community clean and the event really drives the point home that we should not litter. We hope that that idea and practice becomes ingrained in them and that they will think twice before littering.” Harding said that the amount of garbage students are seeing in the community is becoming less and less over the years. “I think that overall people are thinking more about not littering and that students especially as they are getting older have been thinking twice about it.”

The students appeared more than pleased to be undertaking the task at hand and Harding said that the kids really enjoy being outside and feeling like they are contributing to a worldwide event. The students were also encouraged to bring garbage-free lunches to school for Earth Day.