This School Cleans Up!

From butterfly gardens to recycling to clean up day, Hillside Middle School makes a difference one student at a time.

At Hillside Middle School in Manchester, New Hampshire, we have something called the Butterfly Garden. The garden, which is designed to attract butterflies, was created a few years ago by eighth graders at the school. Over the past two years however, the beautiful outdoor area has been forgotten. But not anymore!

Now the Student Conservation Association (SCA) is working with Hillside’s current 8th graders to restore the Butterfly Garden’s original beauty.

“We are trying to start a tradition where we are going to revamp this Butterfly Garden and keep it maintained so students can come out here and enjoy it,” said Ralph Protano, who is a part of the SCA’s NH Conservation Corps (NHCC). “Eventually we want to turn it into an outdoor classroom, that is our long-term goal.”

But for now, they are working on the beautification process.

“We’re just getting a place where kids can be excited about the outdoors right here on school grounds,” he said.

I am a student at Hillside Middle School where we are working to reduce, reuse, and recycle more.  At my school we have a recycling committee. So far, we have enforced a rule that teachers must turn off all computers, lights, and other electronic devises after school hours. We have recycling containers in the cafeteria for aluminum cans and water bottles. All paper and cardboard are placed in recycling bins and collected each week by the committee. Also, all the school’s lights are energy efficient fluorescent bulbs.

Along with these everyday efforts, my school is holding a clean up event on Earth Day, April 22. Students and Faculty members will stay after school and pick up trash on school grounds. We are also going to clean up the park across the street. 

When I think of Earth Day and ways to save our planet this quote always come to my mind: Nobody can do everything, but everyone can do something (author unknown). in other words, no individual can do everything, but each and every person can do a little something to make a difference.

—Elizabeth Conway

Photo: Hillside Middle School's compost bin, which fertilizes the school's butterfly garden. (Photo courtesy Elizabeth Conway.)

Comments

[Kid Repporter Gopa P.]

Hi Elizabeth!
Thats a nice way to prepare for Earth Day!! A butterfly garden. I also think that your idea of turning that garden into a classroom is cool too. Keep up the good work guys, and keep going green!!!
Gopa

[MIchelle]

I love that quote: Nobody can do everything, but everyone can do something (author unknown). I'll be sharing this with my classroom today as we discuss Earth Day - Thanks!