November 06, 2007
Midway Elementary Gym teacher Keith Furstenberg knows a thing or two about living the green lifestyle. He grew up in the Great Lakes area and has a vast appreciation for nature.
In college, he was committee vice president of his university's environmental club. Although he doesn't drive a hybrid, preferring instead a Toyota Echo (which gets 42 mpg, by the way), he heads up his school's "Green Team", an environmental club for third through fifth graders.
The Green Team grew out of a special project by the Horizons Gifted Program during the 2006-2007 school year. It was so popular and successful that the Green Team was launched as a school-wide club for third through fifth graders this year.
"We have just over 40 students in the club and we meet every Thursday before school. The big idea is to incorporate a variety of ways to make Earth a better place to live," said Furstenberg.
Several ways these enthusiastic youngsters help accomplish this goal is to collect paper from all classrooms in blue plastic bins and recycle it.
"We also collect one and two plastic from the cafeteria, mostly in the form of empty milk jugs," said Furstenberg. "Plus, the workers in the cafeteria have been excellent about collecting cardboard to be recycled. They have been really helpful with meeting our club's goals."
Furstenberg is aided in his efforts by five other teachers: Jennifer Schneider, Ashley Ford, Jan Gilmore, Lisa Birks, and Phyllis Chandler all help the children with recycling. Coach Furstenberg is clearly devoted to his environmental cause and his eagerness to bring about awareness has imprinted itself on his Green Team's members.
"We want to try to stop Global Warming," stated Rhema Ajimotokin.
"We get to help recycle things," Becca Campbell said.
"Making the world a better place is what we're trying to do," said Keith McLendon.
The fifth graders were hard at work in the gym, creating posters for the Arbor Day National poster competition. Sponsored by Toyota, the contest's theme for 2007-2008 is "Trees Are Terrific….inside and out", which is geared toward increasing understanding of the importance of trees in our ecosystem. After the school-wide contest is judged, the winning poster will go on to compete in the county. The national winner receives a $1,000 savings bond and an all-expense paid trip.
Other than recycling, the students had some interesting suggestions for saving the planet.
"Plant trees," declared Blair Madryga.
"Stop polluting water," insisted Karen Shen.
River Faulkner suggested, "When you get seeds out of fruit, replant them."
The Midway Elementary Green Team is planning several field trips this year as well as participation in community projects. Also on the schedule will be an Earth Day Celebration in April 2008. Teaching these students to respect the earth and help protect our resources is important to Coach Furstenberg. Showing them how to raise others' environmental awareness is the key to a greener future.
- www.northfulton.com
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