Searcy, AR (LP) – “We only have one planet and it is our responsibility to help preserve it,” says Rebekkah Hays, ALE teacher at SHS. Recycling is very important to the world today. It helps save the environment and keep the world clean. When schools recycle, they help reduce the usage of fossil fuels. They also help conserve resources and help to create local jobs. November 15th is America’s Recycle Day, and the ALE students took up a service project. The purpose of the project was to have more students pledge to recycle. Around 84,000 people have signed the American pledge. (www.americarecyclesday.org)
A big thanks to EAST for printing out the poster located by the cafeteria. Also a special thank you to the ALE students for cutting out 400-500 paper hands. Mrs.Hays says, “By putting their names on a hand on the wall, they were making a pledge to lend a hand to help out our school, community, and country by recycling.” Schools are known to help shape habits that we continue as adults. So, students who participate in recycling now, will most likely continue to recycle as adults. Gabe Valdez, a Junior at SHS says, “Recycling at the school needs to be recognized by more students. They will greatly influence the environment around us little by little.” The goal at the school is to collect 10,000 pounds of recycling in this school year. We have collected around 2,500 pounds so far.
ALE students have influenced the recycling around the school. Mrs.Hays states, “My students pick up the recycling around the school every week as a service learning project. By helping to coordinate this event, they got to share with other students what they have learned about how recycling benefits the planet.” If you pass Mrs.Hays or see an ALE student, make sure to tell them they’ve done a good job and thank them for their effort.
Awareness of recycling is very important nowadays. Especially since the world is going through a lot of changes with the climate. Even if a few schools in the community go through with recycling, it could make a difference around us. We need to keep the world healthy, we only have one chance to anyways. Recycling at home, as well as school, would take us one step up as a community. “I hope that the event brought more of an awareness about recycling to the student body. Maybe now they will be more intentional about recycling at school and at home,” Rebekkah Hays states.
