Composting in Stuyvesant Park continues

We have expanded the number of compost bins in Stuyvesant Park. Our fist bin is in the east side of the park and is now clearly labeled.



We build three more bins and installed them in the west side of the park, as per Gosha's direction. We will continue composting and have been invited to participate 'turning' the leaves.

The rooftop garden planters are done!

Wood working artisan Michael Miritello has built four garden boxes that will go on the roof of the school, near the playground. The SGET will fill these boxes with soil and plant some bulbs in anticipation of blooming in the spring. We hope to plant vegetables too.

The Votes Are In!

At the beginning of November the PS40 student body was asked to help create a logo for the 2009-2010 Super Green Eco Team. Over 30 submissions were received, posted and the kids voted. Today we counted the votes and here are the results...

The drawing made by fifth grader, Jackson, received the most votes.

Alex's picture was the 1st runner up,
Liam's picture was the 2nd runner up, and
Annie's picture was the 3rd runner up.

Jackson's picture will be turned into the badge given to classrooms when they pass inspection.

Congratulations Jackson!

The SGET Teams Up with the Parks Department

The 2009-2010 Super Green Eco Team went on our first field trip on the morning of Monday, November 23rd.

With parent chaperons and PS40 faculty member Erika Salzman, we walked down 2nd Avenue to Stuyvesant Park.


We met Stuyvesant Park gardener (AKA the woman in charge) Gosha who talk to the team about the importance of composting. In the park they compost the leaves that fall from the trees.


Red gardening gloves were distributed, and we got to work.



Gosha explained how to build a compost bin, out of the chicken wire Michele brought. Some SGET members and parent chaperons together built a gorgeous compost bin.


The rest of the crew filled huge garbage bags full of the leaves they raked.



Once the bags were full, they were dumped in our composting bin.






The team worked so hard that we soon realized that we would need more bins.

We decided to build three more bins, just like the first. These four bins are the responsibility of the PS40 Super Green Eco Team. We will all visit the park as often as we can, with our gloves, to continue the composting process we have started.

Gosha let us know that we are authorized to come to the park and support and maintain our compost bins whenever we want.



It was a great morning!

Catherine Ponte from Partnership for Parks & Gosha....Thank you!!!!

SGET November 20th 2009

The Super Green Eco Team met this morning to go over their experiences teaching their classes last week. We discussed how they would inspect the classes for which they are responsible. We talked about the inspection forms they will use. Next Monday we will go on a field trip to Stuyvesant Park; permission slips were collected and parent chaperons were requested. The SGET Logo voting will end on Thursday 11/25 & we will have a winner Monday November 30th.


The kids got a heads up about the possible installation of raised garden boxes for the roof playground at our next meeting on Dec. 4th. In addition to installing the raised beds we will need to get soil up to the roof. The following week we hope to plant 150 tulips and iris that will bloom next Spring!

Have you voted??

The ballot box is open! Please visit the cafeteria bulletin board and cast your vote for this years SGET Logo! The ballots will be counted next Friday. Get your votes in!!!!

The Super Green Eco Team members teach their classes and offices how to Reduce, Reuse, Recycle, and pass inspection!

This Friday morning the SGET met briefly in the art room to cover last minute questions before leaving to teach their classes.




Several teachers found former students teaching their current students about how to recycle properly, use reusable water bottles, and the importance of microfiber cloths.

October Eco Newsletter Article!

Logo Competition!

The Super Green Eco Team LOGO CONTEST!

This year the SGET will lead PS40 to participate in the NYC Dept. of Sanitation Golden Apple Award ‘TEAM UP TO CLEAN UP’

As you may already know, PS40 placed first place in the previous 2 years contests!

For both years a student has designed the image that becomes the Logo to represent PS40’s efforts during the year.

It’s that time again! If you wish to submit a drawing for the 2009-10 ‘TEAM UP TO CLEAN UP’ Logo see info, guidelines and due dates below.

GUIDELINES:

There are two choices of images to create.

1. A Tree or Trees

AND/OR

2. The Sun and the Moon (clouds optional)

All drawings must be done on plain unlined 8.5” x 11” white paper. Drawings must be made in black marker OR black paint.

Do not add the school name, year or contest name, thank-you!

DATES & INFO;

All drawings submitted will be posted on the cafeteria bulletin board with a ballot box. PS40 students will cast their vote for the logo to be used this year.

Please drop your drawing off in the SGET office mailbox by NOV. 6^. 2009.

MAKE SURE YOUR NAME AND CLASS NUMBER ARE ON THE BACK.

Ballots will be counted on November 20^th.

The 2009-2010 Super Green Eco Team's First Meeting

On Friday, October 16th, the 2009-2010 Super Green Eco Team met for the first time. Suzie and Michele were introduced to 14 energetic and enthusiastic 4th and 5th graders. We all talked about our specific "eco interests" and learned about the goals that this year's eco team was going to work toward.

1. Have organized and productive SGET meetings.

2. Continue the Reduce, Reuse, and Recycle policies PS40 has already implemented.

3. Develop a responsible relationship between SGET member/inspectors and the classrooms for which they are responsible.

4. Work on the Team Up to Clean Up competition

• Brainstorm project ideas

• Vote on ideas and project leaders

• Find partners for projects - Solar One, Lower East Side Ecology Center, etc.

• See projects through to fruition
  

5. Create the 3rd Annual Earth Week Celebration

6. Maintain the PS40 Team Up To Clean Up! blog

7. Maintain the Eco Bulletin Board in the cafeteria

By the end of our meeting, each SGET member was assigned at least two classrooms for which they will be responsible. It was very clear that this team of eco students are going to do great things and make positive changes at PS40 and in the world.

Our next meeting will be on October 30th 2009.

This year the Super Green Eco Team of PS40 will lead the school to participate in the NYC Dept. of Sanitation's Golden Apple Competition 'TEAM UP TO CLEAN UP CHALLENGE'.

Last year (2008-09) PS40 won the Golden Apple Award city wide & borough winner in the 'Trashmasters! Reduce & Reuse Challenge' read all about it at www.ps40reduceandreuse.blogspot.com

And in 2007-08 PS40 placed best Manhattan Elementary School in the 'Trashmasters! Super Recyclers' Read about their awesome efforts here www.ps40recycles.blogspot.com