Grade schoolers get on bandwagon for Green Apple Day of Service

Submitted by District 301

On Saturday, Sept. 21, Howard B. Thomas Grade School, 44W575 Plato Road, Burlington, will be participating in the Green Apple Day of Service as part of the U.S. Green Building Council Illinois Chapter’s day to work with community volunteers to create positive environmental changes within the schools.

Students, parents, teachers, and many other community members will be participating in a landscape cleanup project, which also will include the planting/dedication of a tree, the first of the school’s commitment toward sustainability. Volunteers, donations and sponsors are welcome. They already had a volunteer day on Aug. 15, which was the first “Back to School” cleanup.

This is a worldwide initiative to promote environmental awareness in schools. The Burlington school is working under the mentorship of Dawn Tecza to spruce up the exterior of the building and to create a plan for sustainable landscaping. In addition to the exterior plans, they will also be working to increase student awareness of thinking environmentally and to improve the school’s recycling program.

Volunteers will be working from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m.to plant trees, weed, and clean up the butterfly garden behind the library. All ages are welcome to pitch in. For details, call (847) 464-6005. To learn more about Green Apple Day of Service, visit mygreenapple.org.