When it comes to throwing something away, the students at Stuckey Elementary School in Northglenn are learning to think twice.
The school recently kicked off a new recycling program with the help of a special group of students dedicated to sharing recycling education with their peers.
The school hosted a student-run assembly Jan. 15 that featured a musical performance from the school’s recycling club that stressed the importance of recycling, reusing and reducing.
Special education teacher and club sponsor Mary Maydew said the assembly was meant to engage the other students in the school about the new recycling program and to be mindful of what they throw away in the trash.
“With this program, we will be recycling in all of the classrooms. And eventually we will have a contest to see which room recycles the most,” she said. “The students in the club will help out their fellow classmates by coaching them on recycling and reminding them to stay involved.”
The recycle program wouldn’t be possible without a grant from the Green Up Our Schools program. In October, Stuckey Elementary received a $2,000 grant to last over a three-year period to implement the program. Green Up Our Schools provides funding for proposed waste reduction and recycling plans in elementary schools. Other schools in the Adams 12 Five Star Schools district involved in the program are Silver Creek Elementary, STEM Launch School, STEM Magnet Lab School and Woodglen Elementary School.
“I am a recycler myself and I noticed around the school that there were a lot of things that could be recycled, that were being thrown away,” Maydew said. “Recycling is easy and it gives the students something they can do to be proud of. Plus they can take what they’ve learned at school and apply it at home.”
Fifth-grader Judea Montour is a recycling club member. He said he’s learned that by recycling, he can help save landfills.
“There is a lot of stuff in the landfills that we can recycle,” he said. “They are getting filled up, but we can prevent that. And by being in the club I’m able to be a good role model for my class and the whole school for recycling.”
