LEXINGTON, Ky. (LEX 18)– A Lexington Elementary School is turning heads nationally for going green and this year alone, saved Fayette County School District about $18,000 for their efforts.
Tate’s Creek Elementary School earned the title “National Green Ribbon School” this week for their efforts in sustainability building efficiency, environmental literacy, and student and staff wellness.
Finnian Agee, a 5th-grader, and his classmates are on a mission to learn more and to educate their school.
“There are three things we focus on. Health and wellness. Sustainability and our environmental impact,” said Tates Creek Elementary “Green Creek” teacher Therese Morris.
It started with recycling bins in each classroom and has expanded to the Green Creek class of 26 students. The Green Creek students have planted trees, changed the cafeteria plates to bio-degradable ones, built benches out of plastic they collected, and learned all there is to know about recycling.
As the students learn in class, the mission is not just about recycling.
“It’s by sustaining energy and using energy that is better for our Earth, like not putting more pollution out and closing the blinds whenever you can, and trying to unplug things when you can, because you don’t want to run our energy because you don’t know, maybe we will run out one day,” said Bella Anull, a fifth grader.
“The children are where it all begins. That this is their world that they are going to have to live in. It’s their ocean that’s full of plastic–their trash rolling down the roads,” said Morris.
Morris told LEX 18 that when school starts back up in the fall, there are already plans for a rain garden and coffee trees for their continued hands-on classroom.
