Earth Day, which has been celebrated on April 22 every year since its inception as a day of environmental awareness in 1970, is an appealing celebration for educators because it combines the elements of good citizenship with the need for understanding the world around us. No matter where a teacher or student may stand in the current debate about global climate change, simply conserving and caring for our own natural surroundings is a strong and worthwhile message.

Teachers Hit the Road to Keep Putnam Beautiful
The Putnam Valley Federation of Teachers, in cooperation with Keep Putnam Beautiful, hoped to send that message by adopting a section of Peekskill Hollow Road near the campus of PV Middle and High Schools. Teacher volunteers from all three PV schools worked on Friday, April 24, 2009, to clean up the one-mile stretch of road between Foothill Street and Lovers Lane.

“This is one way for the teachers to give back to the community,” said the union’s secretary Mick Coleman, a teacher at Putnam Valley Middle School. “We timed the clean up for 3:30 on the Friday after Earth Day so that everyone could participate.” The group will schedule cleanups four times a year as part of the Keep Putnam Beautiful Adopt-a-Road program. Keep Putnam Beautiful’s Walt Thompson joined the group. Dorothy Nadell, a PVMS fifth grade math and science teacher reported, “We had a great time and collected 26 bags of trash. Several drivers passing by even yelled ‘thank you’ out the window at us!”

In the spirit of caring and sharing, Mr. Coleman also shared that on the April 23, 2009, Superintendent’s Conference Day, teachers showed their compassion and caring for a student in need by donating money at lunchtime to the fund for PVHS student Caitlyn Bagnato, who has a rare form of cancer.

Taking Care of the Earth is Elementary

Clearly, in Putnam Valley, Earth Day is more than just a one-day affair. At Putnam Valley Elementary School, teachers Scott (4th grade) and Debra (1st grade) Sperling held their combined Earth Day celebrations on Monday, April 20. “We planned an outdoor ‘trash-free lunch’ picnic, but the weather didn't cooperate so we ended up in our classrooms,” reported Mrs. Sperling. “The parents were asked to pack a trash free lunch (in as many reusable containers as possible, cloth napkins, etc.) and were invited to stay for a read aloud of The Lorax in Scott's classroom.” Mrs. Sperling showed a slideshow that she created to accompany Tom Chapin's children’s song, "Happy Earth Day.” In addition, all week at PVES, student Catherine Mazza from Mrs. Mistretta's class made public service announcements on the school’s morning announcements to share the hardships of acquiring clean drinking water in underdeveloped countries.

Photo above, L to R: First grade students Em,ily Emily Mazzella and Jay Brazee and Jay Brazee share their ideas on how to take care of the earth.

Town Park Project

PVES teacher Susan Baumgartner and other members of the Character Education Committee are planning a big Earth Day Celebration for May 29th at 4 pm in the Putnam Valley Town Park. This event, hosted by the Character Education Committee and Putnam Valley Parks & recreation, and funded by the Putnam Valley Education Foundation, is an opportunity for children and parents to help plant flowers near the park pavilion and beautify the park by removing litter.

The Character Education Committee suggests that participants bring their own gardening gloves, tools, and/or donations of flowers. Finally, empty juice drink pouches, ink cartridges, and cell phone batteries will be collected for re-use/recycling.