CES Green Dream

Drink Pouches

2012-01-03T22:07:00.003-05:00

Thanks to Eliza and Meighan for helping to empty, and straighten up the drink pouches from lunch. We boxed up 15.5 pounds of empty pouches to send to Terracycle. That means that they will become something useful instead of going to the dump. The girls were very helpful, but it was interesting to listen to them talk about the messy bag of pouches. Some people didn't empty the pouches completely, didn't remove their straws, and didn't flatten the pouches. If these things are done, it makes it much easier to pack the box. Please help us out by emptying, flattening, and removing the straw when you drink from a juice pouch. Thanks for your continued support.

New Composter

2011-12-01T18:13:00.003-05:00

We want to thank Mrs. Sawyer for donating our new composter. We put it next to the garden close to the primary hall so that it would be convenient to the garden and easy for us to use. We checked out the vegetables growing in the garden...cabbage and brussel sprouts. Then we added the pumpkins that had begun to rot from our pumpkin exploration in October as our "green" ingredient. We added some shredded paper as our "brown" ingredient. It will make for some great soil in the spring. And we get to watch it break down through the winter. I wonder if we will get any worms moving in to help out in the process. What do you think? Do you have a composter or a compost pile at your house?

Recycling in the Past

2011-11-13T19:54:00.004-05:00

We studed the American Patriotic Symbols this past week in first grade. We discovered that the original Liberty Bell was recycled when it cracked the first time it was rung. It was too much to send it back to England for repair, so it was melted down here in America and reformed. Because it then sounded strange it was melted down again and reformed to become the bell that we all know. I bring this up because we need to think everyday about how we can work to reduce our waste by recycling and reusing things in stead of throwing them away. CELEBRATE with us National Recycling Day Tuesday, November 15th, by wearing your green. I'll be looking for you.

Back at the Keyboard

2011-10-26T22:15:00.003-04:00

Sorry it has been so long. Know that it is not due to a lack of conservation going on here at Creeds ES. We have enjoyed another fabulous school-wide Earth Day celebration. We had pumpkin sprouts growing in the vermicomposter. Some staff members took an outdoors classroom habitat class over the summer so we could embed learning about nature in our outdoor classroom better this year. Terracycle collections did well. One of our parents was inspired to make jewelry from empty gift cards as a way of reusing the card materials instead of letting them rot at the dump. The Conservation Chiefs decided that we needed recycle bins at our baseball fields so people would have a place to put empty bottles and cans. Sweet potatoes were harvested in the 1st grade garden in September during our Day of Caring. Two more rainbarrels were installed. Preschool PowWow hosted another amazing conservation evening where children learned about recycling, reusing, reducing, and composting. Tadpoles were rescued when the Frog Bog went dry in the spring and the students had the opportunity to watch the lifecycle of real frogs in the classroom before releasing them to a wetter habitat. The path through the Frog Bog area was improved by a boy scout project and the placement of stump seating thanks to Mr. Andy and the hurricane that blew over a large tree. There is bench seating by the pier enough for an entire class. We have been busy, but I will try to stay on top of it again. I hope you too have been diligent about making conservation efforts. Let us know what YOU have been doing.

Another Terracycle Shipment

2011-03-08T21:39:00.002-05:00

We sent in 42 pounds to Terracycle. That's Drink pouches, gluesticks, and zipper bags that won't be found at the landfill. Give yourselves a pat on the back for collecting so diligently. Keep sending in your collectible waste items. Terracycle will put them to good use and pay us for collecting them. We have all ready recieved a check for $192 for our efforts. I cannot wait to see what the Conservation Chiefs decide to purchase with the earnings. Oh, if you haven't been out to the Frog Bog recently, stop by and check it out. 1st Grade toured it last week, identifying living and non-living things and hunting for evidence of seeds. There may not be a lot of new growth yet, but it is still worth the visit.

Down and Dirty

2011-03-08T21:20:00.002-05:00

The worms are back at work eating through food waste, coffee grounds, and shredded newspaper. They have all ready started making castings, which will act like fertilizer in the garden. They seemed very happy to be inside where it is warmer, though the compost pile from which they were retreive seemed pretty warm. At least in their new home they won't have as many friends to compete with for food. Well, not for the time being anyway. If they are as happy as the worms last year, then we'll have babies again before the end of the year.

Collection Totals

2011-02-08T19:12:00.004-05:00

AWESOME! In January, Towels for Terriers collected 100 towels, 103 washclothes, 90 hand towels, and 33 blankets. Those numbers are great for one month of collecting. We want to thank everyone who particapated in January by sending in their old linens. Did you know Towels for Terriers was the idea of a 7th grader at Princess Anne MS? She came up the plan to collect and deliver the linens to the SPCA to help the be more eco-friendly. So don't ever let anyone tell you that one person can't make a difference. Here's proof that it only takes one person with a desire to make a difference.
Speaking of collections, our check for our Terracycle collections came in this month. We added 192 dollars to our account to be use here at Creeds ES to help us with our GREEN movement. The Conservation Chiefs and the Frog Boggers will be deciding what to spend it on this spring. I can't wait to find out what it goes toward. Until then: Reduce, Reuse, Recycle, and Rethink everyday!

Reuse It

2011-02-08T18:51:00.003-05:00

Did you know the Conservation Chiefs reused some items that where headed to the recycle bin and trash can to create things with a new purpose. Their efforts extended the useful life of these items. Some students created cute storage containers and others created musical instruments. Before you throw that next container into the trash, think about how else you might use it. By reusing things, you reduce waste going to the landfill, you reduce the need for new resources to make new items, and you could even save yourself the money required to purchase the new things. Reusing is good for the environment and your bank account. Give it some thought. What can you reuse and how can you extend its life?

Reduce? Reuse? Recycle?

2011-01-12T21:29:00.003-05:00

Which do you think is the most important...reducing, reusing, or recycling? Ask a Conservation Chief. They will explain why reducing makes the biggest impact. They can even share some ways that each of us can reduce our use of resources and the amount of trash we send to the landfill. We are going to try to always turn off lights when we aren't in the room. Turning the water off is a way to save water. Reusing and recycling help us to reduce. Composting food waste has helped us to reduce cafeteria waste. It is all great for the Earth and it doesn't take much effort. How can you reduce your dependence on natural resources? How can you reduce the amount of waste going in the trash?

Holiday Conservation Facts

2010-12-16T06:58:00.003-05:00

Did you know that the NYC holiday tree is is lit nightly by 30,000 LED lights to conserver energy? Did you know that its branches will become mulch and its trunk is used as lumber to help build a Habitat for Humanity house after the holidays? It is nice to know that the spirit of the holidays will continue throughout the year as the 74 foot tree will be REUSED instead of sitting in the landfill. What will you be doing this holiday to extend the life of our natural resources?

Waste Free Celebrations

2010-12-13T19:59:00.004-05:00

Room moms and teachers have started to send in their requests for class celebration supplies...cloth napkins, silverware, plates, cups, and bowls. We are going to have a wonderful without regret for the trash since there won't be lots of trash. Can you say the same thing at home?

Another Drop Off

2010-12-07T20:27:00.003-05:00

After meeting with the Conservation Chiefs, I dropped off two 14.5 pound boxes at UPS for Terracycle...one with zipper bags and one with drink pouches. We also earned $28 for the last shipment of drink pouches. Keep on collecting the drink pouches, writing utensils, corks, zipper bags, and glue sticks. Now, if you want to know about composting, ask a Conservation Chief. We will be composting food waste in the cafeteria to create nutrient-rich soil for gardening. All we need are greens (fruit/vegetable scraps), browns (bread scraps/napkins), air, and water. If you want to try composting at home, it isn't too hard so just give it a try.

25 Tips for a GREEN Holiday!

2010-12-01T19:15:00.002-05:00

1. Turn off the decorative lights when you go to bed
2. Use LED lights
3. Use solar lights outside
4. Recycle old batteries
5. Use rechargeable batteries
6. Give Eco-friendly gifts
7. Reuse gift bags
8. Reuse gift boxes
9. Use reusable baskets
10. Use reusable tins
11. Shred old wrapping paper or tissue paper for filler in gift boxes, bags, and baskets
12. Wrap gifts with holiday cloth
13. Wrap gifts in brown paper bags with nice ribbon to dress it up
14. Make popcorn and cranberry garland to wrap the tree and then feed it to the birds
15. Make ornaments from reusable materials (check back on the blog for ideas)
16. Donate old gently used items to charity
17. Donate old coats to “Coats for Kids”
18. Donate old prescription glasses to the “Lion’s Club”
19. Use cloth napkins and table clothes to dress up the holiday
20. Make your own cards
21. Send e-cards to electronic friends
22. Buy cards made of recycled materials
23. Save this year’s cards to make gift tags for next year
24. Recycle your live tree into mulch
25. Reduce, Reuse, Recycle, and Rethink your holiday

Too Many for the Box

2010-11-30T19:28:00.004-05:00

Mrs. VanderGeissen brought in 3 bags of drink pouches that her 1st grade nephew, Julien Melio, had the cafeteria manager at his Norfolk school, Fairlawn Elementary, collect for us. Isn't that great? Our desire to reduce waste has gone beyond the grounds of Creeds. Well, I put them neatly in the box to mail and couldn't help myself. So I took the others from the tub and filled the box. I could hardly put the lid on the box and there were still 2 full rows of pouches left in the tub. So when I dropped off the box at UPS, it weighed 12.8 pounds. I figure that is about 1200 pouches. I wonder if any of them will end up being Christmas stocking like this picture. What would you like to see the pouches turned into for their second life?

Dress up your Thanksgiving Table

2010-11-23T22:01:00.002-05:00

It takes far less time to wash cloth napkins and silverware than to wait on styrofoam and plastic to decompose in the landfill. Treat yourself to the luxury of an elegant table when friends and family come to visit. You're worth it.

Yard Sale

2010-11-23T21:47:00.002-05:00

Our Second Time Around Yard Sale was a wonderful experience this past weekend. We sold table space to 20 people. The money will go toward purchasing reusable cloth napkins and real silverware so that we can reduce the amount of trash going out after school celebrations. An additional benefit is that the staff and students will enjoy the elegance of these little luxuries. As for the yard sale, people's discarded items found new homes with new purposes. It was a win-win for everyone. Maybe we'll see you there next time. Oh...and the Frog Boggers did a super job conducting tours of the Frog Bog and were given $36 in donations to use on additions. It was a marvelous day!

Recycling Rewards

2010-11-16T20:20:00.003-05:00

The Conservation Chiefs are on recycling duty. They are determined to teach their classmates to recycle the appropriate materials and trash the inappropriate materials. Their new responsibility includes checking the blue recycle bin in their classes at the end of the day and reporting any problems to the class so that they can learn from their mistakes. It is an ambitious goal, but I have faith that they will make a difference. I have heard from parents that they are working on the household, too. Way to go, Conservation Chiefs! Ask them what can be recycled and why it is important to recycle. What do you think is the most frequently misplaced material? paper? food wrappers? bottles? paper towels? Ask a custodian, they know the answer.

Conservation Pays Off

2010-11-01T19:55:00.002-04:00

Ok, the totals are in. We earned $56.68 for our empty drink pouches, zipper bags, and corks. Thank you for sending in these items. Every item counts and they added up one at a time to a great total. Plus we prevented all the items from going to the landfill. They will be given a second life instead. What do you think we should buy with the money? something for the Frog Bog? something for the gardens? something for the school building that is eco-friendly? We should recieve the check in December, so give it some thought and tell your Conservation Chief your ideas.

Second Time Around Yard Sale

2010-10-24T21:07:00.004-04:00

Mark your calendar for the Creeds Second Time Around Yard Sale Saturday, November 20th from 8-12noon. It is your opportunity to sell some treasures you are nolonger using or to purchase some treasures from someone else. If you wish to sell your treasures, tables are $10 each and the money goes to purchasing eco-friendly cloth napkins and real silverware for celebrations. They may require a little washing, but we won't be sending anything to the landfill. Besides when the children use cloth napkins and create their own napkin rings, they real like royalty. In addition, there will be Frog Bog tours and healthy snacks for sale. We hope to see you there. What might you be looking for or looking to get rid of this fall?

Terracycle Drop Off

2010-10-21T22:00:00.003-04:00

I dropped off 3 boxes for UPS to deliver to Terracycle instead of the landfill last night. It was 12.25 pounds of corks, 8.3 pounds of zipper bags, and 11.4 pounds of empty drink pouches. They should recieve it and processes it in the next couple of weeks so that we will recieve our check for it in December. Please continue to send in your collections for us to send to Terracycle. Remember zipper bags don't have to be Ziploc, any brand will do. Also, they don't have to be cleaned out, just rinse them if they had something wet/yucky in them. Still wet inside or coated with cheese curl dust is fine. It all gets cleaned and shredded as it starts its new life. Do you think we can beat these totals with out next shipment?

New Turtle in the Neighborhood

2010-10-15T20:09:00.005-04:00

Mr. Andy found a box turtle on the road and brought it to Creeds to see if it liked the habitat we had created better than the dangerous roadway. It moved right in to the tall grassy canopy of the Frog Bog when Mrs. Marx's class took it out. Do you see it in the picture? It didn't take long for it to disappear. The camophlaged shell blends into the surroundings perfectly. I hope she will be happy. Do you think she will like the moist, grassy habitat? Let me know if you see her.

THE THAMES IS THE WORLD'S LEAST POLLUTED RIVER

2010-10-14T22:09:00.003-04:00

London's world famous river won this award for their efforts to restore the Thames which had become a waterway polluted with sewage and industrial waste where wildlife could not survive. Sixty years later it attracts salmon, sea trout, and otters. It is now a healthy habitat for some 125 species of fish. Water pollution is a global problem affecting all of us. London, England has taken a step to correct the problem. Three cheers for their efforts! What will you do to help reduce water pollution?

Tidewater Fiber Company

2010-10-13T21:00:00.002-04:00

We were lucky today to have Kathy Russell of Tidewater Fiber Company visit our school to spread the word about recycling, reducing, and reusing. She was a wealth of information. She brought her therapy dog Taylor with her with a cape like a super hero sidekick. These are some of the comments coming from our super smart 4th graders: Trey said, "He learned to recycle only plastic bottles with a one or a two on it" in the recycle triangle. Emily said, "I learned that there is a trash island in the Pacific Ocean." Timothy said, "I learned that what you recycle can be used and sold again." And Phillip said, "I learned that recycling is important because you don't have to destroy nature to make cans again." I was please to learn that you can leave the cap on bottles being recycled because they have updated the machinery to separate shredded bottles and caps. What did you learn today?

Conservation Chiefs

2010-10-05T21:30:00.002-04:00

Yeah, for the Chiefs...the Conservation Chiefs. The Conservation Chiefs met for the first time today. They will be bringing information back to their class to share with classmates on how to properly prepare our Terracycle collections for shipment. We almost have a box full of Capri Sun drink pouches, corks, and zipper bags. Keep collecting and giving them to your Conservation Chief. If you have questions, look for your Chief, they are your expert on the spot.

2010 Day of Caring

2010-10-05T21:20:00.002-04:00

Volunteers are a wonderful thing. It is thanks to the amazing volunteers that joined us September 10th that we now have our 1st grade garden raised bed constructed, the bat houses mounted, the excessive cattails removed from the bog, and lots of weeds removed from the flower beds in the front of the building and the back by the Frog Bog. The frogs, dragonflies, and butterflies were certainly enjoying themselves. It will be great to get back outside when the ground isn't so soggy. I'll see you out there.

Meet Herbert

2010-07-21T21:49:00.003-04:00

I found Happy Frog Herbert in my mailbox at school today. He was just hanging out, waiting to tell me how much he missed seeing my students visit the Frog Bog. If you have as little as 5 minutes to spend wandering around the Frog Bog, do it. Even in this heat, the trip is pleasant for a quick visit. In my little visit, I saw zillions of dragonflies, some butterflies, 2 spiders, a strange wood boring bee, an ant, lots of cattails, and tree that fell down across the path. You can still get around it with one giant step or by detouring through the center pathway. So take 5 minutes and enjoy our natural habitat. I guarantee you will hear birds, crickets, or frogs depending on the time of day you go.

Visit to the Frog Bog

2010-07-15T07:51:00.002-04:00

I took my husband and Amber to see the Frog Bog because they hadn't seen it, but had heard a lot about it since I am always talking about it. We went in the evening and the crickets serenaded us as we explored. We did hear a couple of bullfrogs, too. There weren't as many dragonflies and butterflies as my daytime visit, but there were a few. The flowers are looking beautiful and the path is dry. We around the path and found a spider on the backside in a wonderful web. Have you been out recently? Have you been by to see the installed water barrels collecting rain or the cherry tomato plant with it's small harvest? Check it out if you get a chance. It is your turn to show mom, dad, and any family visiting for the summer the outdoor classroom at Creeds ES. Make it one of your summer attractions. See you there!

More Recycling News

2010-07-02T11:33:00.003-04:00

Did you know that Creeds also collects for recycling cell phones and ink cartridges? During this year we have sent in 12 cell phones and 311 ink cartridges. At about 90 cents each, that totals $270 dollars that will be used for technology. But more importantly for the environment, it means a reduction in trash going to the dump. Yeah! Thank you Mr. Bernhard for recycling cell phones and ink cartridges for Creeds. Remember, if you have a cell phone or empty ink cartridge, don't throw it away, drop it off at Creeds ES for recycling.

Some Impressive Numbers

2010-06-30T14:17:00.002-04:00

6807 pieces of "trash" being revitalized. $136.14 we will have to spend on something eco-friendly for Creeds ES in the fall. 6 months of collecting is all we did this year since we didn't start until mid-December. This is just one small step towards conservation. Image what the numbers would be if everyone recycled all year long. In addition, image how many natural resources could be saved for the future. Cheers to you, Creeds, for taking the challenge and soaring high. Now, what should we spend our $136 on in the fall?

Rainbarrels Installed

2010-06-28T07:44:00.002-04:00

If you get a chance, stop by CES to see the new rainbarrels. They have been installed behind the school between the cafeteria and gymnasium. Now, if only we would get some rain to fill them. They will be very useful in watering our plants without having to use the water from the well. We will REUSE the rainwater and CONSERVE the well water. Wouldn't you like to have a rainbarrel? What would you use the water for at your house? I'm going to use mine to water the plants in my backyard and for rinsing things off.

39 Pounds Diverted

2010-06-23T22:07:00.007-04:00

Yes, I dropped off the empty drink pouches (7.7 pounds), the Elmer's glue sticks (11.7 pounds), Ziploc bags (5.5 pounds), and writing instruments (14.4 pounds) at the UPS office today. That's a total of 39 pounds that didn't go to the landfill. I wonder what it will all be turned into in the future. I just love the idea that Terracycle can take our TRASH to create useful stuff with a new purpose and pay us 2 cents each. We will continue to collect over the summer, so save your empty drink pouches, Elmer's glue sticks and bottles, Ziploc bags, and writing instruments (Sharpie, Expo, and PaperMate). If your collection becomes too big, you can drop it off at the Creeds ES office Monday-Thursday in the Conservation Chiefs tub. Conservation shouldn't take a vacation, so remember to reduce, reuse, and recycle all summer long. We will decide how to spend our earnings in the Fall. What do you think we should buy? Remember it must be eco-friendly.

Frog Bog Dedication

2010-06-16T21:47:00.004-04:00

We sure got a soaking rain today during our Frog Bog dedication. It was needed so I'm not complaining. It was nice to see some of the original people who developed the idea and really got the ball rolling on the plan. Without them, we would be missing out on many real life learning experiences. I love looking at the plants as they grow and change. As I walk up to the pier, I am always in awe of the bullfrog giving one last loud croak before it falls silent because it hears me coming. I am looking forward to watching the Frog Bog through the seasonal changes and the growth that is life. What is your favorite thing about the Frog Bog?

5th Grade and 1st Grade Join Up

2010-06-07T10:24:00.004-04:00

This morning Mrs. Barber's morning class and Mrs. Marx's class cooperated in preparing a new tray for the worms. (There are so many...they require lots to eat.) Mrs. Barber's afternoon class will prepare the last tray at the end of the week. After our Frog Bog dedication program 1st grade and 5th grade will cooperatively put the composted waste in the Frog Bog flower beds to fertilize them. Cooperation is a great thing...and using our natural resources wisely is an awesome thing. How do you think the worms will feel being out in the Frog Bog finding food for themselves instead of having food given to them?

Wiggly Worms Multiply

2010-05-29T20:34:00.003-04:00

Who would have know that worms would multiply so quickly. We must have done a really go job in our worm composter of giving the worms a favorable habitat because we have MORE babies. Friday afternoon, we read a story about a worm's life cycle and then set up the next level in the worm composting condominium. First, we collected leftover fruit and vegetable scraps and uneaten sandwich crusts at lunch. That the bottom layer. On top of it we put brown leaves we had collected from th e school yard. That is followed by a layer of damp shredded newspaper which we had used previously to collect the moisture from our Capri Sun pouches as they dried. The final layer is a few sheets of damp newspaper to help maintain the moisture that our worms like in their habitat. It was fun putting it together. Afterwards we went to visit the Frog Bog for a imprompt Friday afternoon fieldtrip. We found the blackberries were plentiful, but the tadpoles were hiding. Tree saplings were growing in the path, but it was dry enough that we could go all the way through. The Shasta daisies were beautiful and the turtle dock awaited a turtle. It was a most pleasant afternoon. Then to document our exploration, the students did pictures in the computer lab and wrote about their discoveries.

Rain Barrels

2010-05-24T18:46:00.002-04:00

Did you know that rain water can be collected and used to water your plants or wash things outside? When rain water is used for such chores, it keeps it from running into the sewer and carrying pollutants into the local waterway. It is a first defense against water pollution. Mrs. Barber and Mrs. Marx took a class this weekend through Lynnhaven River NOW to build 2 rain barrels for Creeds ES. We'll be using the barrels to collect rain water to water the Frog Bog plants and the garden next year. This will save the schools' well water, too, for other uses. If you pay for city water it will save you money to pay for the water and to pay for the sewage of that water. It sounds like a win-win to me. Can you think of any other uses for rain water at school?

Collecting Ziploc Bags for Recycling

2010-05-17T20:36:00.002-04:00

We are now collecting used Ziploc bags of all sizes for recycling through Terracycle. They will give us 2 cents each for everyone we send in to them. Just think how many bags we can keep from going to the dump. In addition, they will pay 2cents each for used Ziploc storage containers. So when you are ready to dispose of those containers, don't throw them out, send them to Creeds ES for recycling. They will be turning them into cool stuff with a second life. How many bags do you think we can collect before school is out for summer?

Frog Boggers at Work

2010-05-09T20:38:00.004-04:00

The "Frog Boggers" have been busy the last few Thursdays watering, weeding, and topping off mulch in the Frog Bog. Except for the lack of rain drying things up a bit, the frog bog is looking good. It is a great place to explore nature. The tadpoles are getting bigger, though they still don't have any legs, they are easier to see. The plants are filling in nicely making everything look lush and green. And surprise, surprise...guess what showed up on the back side of the gardens...wild blackberry bushes with little white flowers. Soon those flowers will be little green berries with dreams of becoming plump, juicy blackberries. Leave it to nature to give you a surprise when you least expect it. What do you think we will discover next?

Capri Drink Pouches

2010-05-03T21:02:00.002-04:00

Whew! I delivered 22.75 pounds of empty Capri Sun pouches to UPS to send to Terracycle for our first check. You know not only will be get money for those pouches, but we can be proud of ourselves for diverting that 22 pounds away from years at the landfill. Terracycle makes cool things by reusing the pouches. I got this bag made with 26 empty pouches at Wal-mart. It is reusable and washable, too. I picked the lemonade bag because it is blue and yellow like our school colors, but you can get one with other flavors. They also had purses made from M&M bags and Skittles bags. What would you like to see an empty Capri Sun pouch become?

Earth Day News and Writing

2010-04-28T22:27:00.002-04:00

Check out the Earth Day Edition of the Creeds Indian Beacon to see student writing, conservation posters, Frog Bog pictures,and conservation activities that you can attend in the community in the future. Plus, Mr. Davenport explains the development of Earth Day 40 years ago. I love the poems and writing that the 1st and 5th grade students did about how to help save Earth.
Check it out and decide for yourself.

Happy 40th Earth Day!

2010-04-22T17:46:00.003-04:00

What an extraordinary Earth Day. Everyone did an awesome job on their part in the school-wide program. I think we should make it an annual event...coming together to share our conservation ideas on Earth Day. I felt really inspired by everyone's enthusiasum. You know students were pointing out litter on the bus ramp and during walk-and-talk behind the cafeteria. What did you find most inspiring about the Earth Day activities you participated in today? Did you go all day without using paper? Did you go see the Frog Bog? Remember posters and writing can be turned into Mrs. Marx until Friday afternoon at 3:00pm.

Are You Ready for Earth Day?

2010-04-21T21:14:00.003-04:00

I'm excited and I hope you are. Tomorrow is the BIG day. Creeds ES will be celebrating the anniversary of the 40th Earth Day by going paperless. We have been rehearsing for our parts in the school-wide performance, too. There will be skits, songs, poems, raps, slideshows, and readers' theather presentations. I just know it is going to be wonderful. Dr. Howell is even going to read a special book about children taking care of the earth. There is a poster contest, too. And all the student writing about making a difference to keep the earth healthy and green are simply awesome! Creeds' students really know a thing or two about conservation. What is the one thing that you think everyone could and should do to protect our natural resources?

Frog Boggers

2010-04-17T21:07:00.002-04:00

The 5th Grade Frog Boggers met for the first time Thursday and cleaned the Capri Sun Pouches. Some additional fifth grade helpers finished up the job on Friday. Mrs. Barber and Mrs. Clifton rubberbanded them together in groups of 25 for counting. When Mrs. Barber and I finished counting Friday afternoon, we were both impressed with the amount of trash we had diverted from the dump. How impressed are you with the final count of 2230 Capri Sun Pouches for our first shipment to terracycle? Can you figure out how much money that earns at 2 cents a piece? Keep sending in those empty Capri Sun Pouches, they are really adding up.

Spring Strikes Again!

2010-04-13T20:58:00.002-04:00

The Frog Bog has tadpoles. If you would like to see them, as of today, they were located to the left of the pier's end. Remember they are part of our outdoor learning environment, which means you should definitely look, but DON'T TOUCH. Who knows how long it will be until they are frogs hopping around the bog? Oh, be on the look out the the turtle with the pink scale on its shell. Is spring fun? Having an outdoor classroom makes it all the more fun. I'll see you out there.

Birth Announcement

2010-04-12T22:54:00.003-04:00

Yes, spring is the time for the birth of many babies...including lots of little baby worms. The worms in the composter in room 104 were busy doing more than composting over spring break. This morning I discovered many tiny little worms no longer than the width of a pencil eraser and no thicker than a piece of thread. Hopefully by next week, they will be big enough to show everyone. I guess that means they are happy in their new home. What baby animals have you found so far this spring?

Earth Day

2010-04-11T20:54:00.002-04:00

Earth Day is Thursday, April 22nd. It is the 40th Anniversary of the Earth Day celebration. At Creeds Elementary, we will be going paperless for the day. In addition, we will have a program with presentations from each grade level that day. Also, to celebrate, we will be having a poster contest whereby students can create a conservation slogan and display it on paper 8.5 x 11 to 12 x 18. Winning posters for each grade level will be displayed on the morning announcements and on this blog. It is a good time to take a look at the newly created Frog Bog to see what nature has to offer. Mrs. Barber has even added a turtle recently. See if you can find it. What will you be doing to celebrate Earth Day?

A Soaking Rain

2010-03-29T22:42:00.003-04:00

With the soaking rain this week, the Frog Bog is overflowing and turning green. Taka a close look and you will see leaf buds on the trees and flower blooms on the perennials. With a little sun later this week, we should see big changes. Take a look when you get a chance and let me know what you find.

Frog Bog Under Construction

2010-03-21T20:18:00.003-04:00

Did you hear about all the volunteers helping to plant trees, shrubs, and flowering plants around the Frog Bog on Thursday? Construction went quickly with so many knowledgable helping hands. The deciduous trees are planted behind the school, near the cafeteria, and around the Frog Bog. The flowering plants will add some pretty colors and attract butterflies behind the south parking lot. There are frogs and dragonflies living near the pond all ready. Maybe we'll see some turtles and lizards there soon, too. Be sure to take a look around and let me know what you think. I just keep thinking it is going to be TOTALLY AWESOME next month for Earth Day when everything is settled in and blooming.

Preschool Conservationists

2010-03-10T21:33:00.003-05:00

It is a wonderful thing to know that we are training preschoolers in our community to conserve natural resources by reducing, recycling, and reusing. To them it is just plain fun, but they carried away with them a knowledge of what to recycle and compost, how to conserve energy, and a beautiful picture reminding them to "Keep Earth Green". The preschoolers participated in an energy conservation obsticle course where they turned off lights, hung clothes to dry, and filled the dishwasher before turning it on. They helped to sort a pile of trash into things that could be recycled, composted, and trashed. We were pleased to see that the recycle bin was fuller than the trash can. And they used scraps donated by a framing business to create art work. On top of all of this, they received a copy of "Michael Recycle and Litterbug Doug." Give it some thought, preschoolers are the future. If they can conserve resources, can you?

Worms at Work in Room 104

2010-03-06T19:30:00.003-05:00

Our worms arrived this week and we fixed them up in a luxurious vermicomposter. The first graders in room 104 are excited about the worms and very curious. They want to see what the little guys are doing, but we can't look at them everyday because they have work to do. We are going to use the results of their efforts on our garden to make the plants grow better. And I hear we can use the worm tea to protect our plants from bugs. This will be a great experience for the students in room 104. Then they can be the vermicomposter ambassadors for the rest of Creeds. Did you know worms played such an important role in the garden?

Remember The Lorax

2010-03-02T20:51:00.003-05:00

On this Dr. Seuss's birthday anniversary, remember the Lorax. He stood for the truffula trees and the importance they played in their habitat. Dr. Suess was a visionary ahead of his time. Remember Dr. Seuss's messege: "The word of the Lorax seems perfectly clear. Unless someone like you cares a whole awful lot, nothing is going to get better. It's not." To keep earth healthy and sustainable, we all need to pitch in and help by reducing, reusing, and recycling. Would you help the Lorax, if he asked you?

Little Steps Add Up

2010-02-28T10:10:00.003-05:00

I was just noticing that the more little steps I take in the name of conservation, the more I notice what others are also doing for the planet. Dominion power is running commercials pitching the benefits of renewable resources like wind power. Campbells Soup can labels tote reminders to recycle the can and notify customers that the label is made of 75% recycle materials. Sam's Club receipts are printed on both sides of the paper so less paper is used. Creeds Preschool Pow Wow is focusing on conservation for its next meeting for the younger generation. The VBCPS "On Your Mark" blog spent the last week commenting on energy conservation in the schools and ways to take it home. I am glad that I am now noticing others' efforts as well as my own. It gives me new ideas and hope that the messege is getting out to the public. What steps for conservation are you noticing in your daily lives?

Composting

2010-02-22T20:15:00.003-05:00

This spring we will start composting cafeteria waste in an outside spinning composter. I am looking forward to it. As a matter of fact, I am so excited that I bought myself a home composter to try composting kitchen waste at home. It is made of 100% recycled plastic, so it is keeping plastics that were once used from being sent to the dump, but it will help me to keep kitchen waste from going in my trash can, too. Another benefit will be the fresh compost for my garden. I am excited about my new Sam's club purchase. What do you think about composting?

Water Conservation Pictures

2010-02-10T20:42:00.003-05:00

It is that time of year again. Mrs. Dawson is at it once more. In art class, the students in all grade levels are creating pictures to spread the word about saving water. The children have done a wonderful job with this task in the past. The best pictures at Creeds are sent on to compete with pictures from elementary schools all over the city. We might be a small school, but we usually have a good turnout in the city-wide water conservation calendar created every year. Last year was phenomenal with multiply pictures in the 12-month calendar and many more receiving honorable mentions. I wonder how we will do this year. Do you have a cool slogan for a water conservation?

Less Trash

2010-01-29T17:24:00.002-05:00

Mrs. Marx's 1st grade class made stone soup today as a final celebration of Reading Month. To try to cut back on the amount of trash thrown away, paper plates were used for sandwiches and placed in the recycle bin; Capri Sun Pouches were used and collected for TerraCycle to upcycle; and white paper napkins were used and placed in the classroom compost bin. We all felt badly that we still had to throw away bowls and spoons that were not recyclable. Maybe next time we can use real bowls and spoons that can be placed in a dishwasher. Let me know if you find a good deals on some dishes and utensils.

School Recycling Rankings

2010-01-28T14:46:00.002-05:00

Did you hear? Creeds Elementary School ranked 4th city-wide for recycling. In November, we recycled 4,757.73 pounds of recyclable materials. As amazing as it may seem, add to that knowledge the fact that we are such a small school and I think it makes our 4th place ranking amazing. Way to go, Creeds! Keep up the GREEN DREAM!

Inspired Conservation

2010-01-17T10:09:00.002-05:00

Through all of the talk about conservation in our 1st grade classroom, Judy was inspired to make a poster about it. This was something that she decided to do on her own...not for a grade or extra credit, but because saving Earth means something important to her. She is "simply the best" and "ahead of the curve". One of the activities we will be doing for Earth Day this spring is a poster contest. Start giving your poster some thought. What will it say? What will it show? What is worth conserving for you? Conservation will impact future generations more than ever.

Frozen Frog Bog

2010-01-12T19:39:00.003-05:00

Have you seen the Frog Bog lately? It has frozen over with the prolonged cold spell. I wonder if the frogs have burrowed down in the mud at the bottom like in our book of winter animal behaviors. What do you think? I think the ice looks neat, but remember not to play on it because frozen ponds, lakes, and frog bogs aren't frozen enough to support your weight. Stay safe and enjoy.

E-Cycling Event

2010-01-11T22:09:00.004-05:00

A picture is worth a thousand words they say. This picture shows a mound of old computer parts. Do you really want them to waste away in a landfill, when they could be recycled into useful materials. If you have old computer components, small tvs, stereo equipment, or game systems, take them to the Virginia Aquarium Saturday, January 23rd from 10-2. They will be collecting in the East Parking Lot off General Booth Blvd. In addition, you can learn other ways to go green at the e-cycling event. Clean out a space and make it a date. It is a new year: "out with the old and in with the new."

Saving the Earth ONE PEN at a Time

2010-01-06T22:21:00.002-05:00

Yes! We are now registered to collect for recycling PaperMate, Expo, and Sharpie writing instruments. We will earn 2 cents for each one to be used to purchase something earth-friendly for the school. I am really excited about this one because everyone uses pens, markers, and highlighters and there is NO CLEAN-UP needed. So tell your family, friends, and neighbors to send in their used PaperMate, Expo, and Sharpie writing instruments. We are going green and earning green. Which collection brigade do you think will earn the most by June?

A Gift for Earth

2010-01-01T20:32:00.003-05:00

Over the winter holiday break, I have signed Creeds ES up to give a gift to Earth. Our gift is a reduced amount of trash for the landfill. As I stated in the last post, we are collecting empty Capri Sun Drink Pouches to send to TerraCycle. We will be forming a Capri Sun Drink Pouch Brigade to ready the pouches for returning and to decide how to spend the money in an eco-friendly way to benefit Creeds ES. Also, we will be collecting empty Elmer's Glue sticks and bottles to prevent them from going to the landfill. So we will be forming an Elmer's Glue Recycling Crew to ready the sticks and bottles for return. How many pouches, sticks, and bottles do you think we can prevent from going to the dump?

Capri Sun Collections

2009-12-21T21:44:00.003-05:00

We are now collecting Capri Sun drink pouches to send to TerraCycle to upcycle into new exciting products instead of throwing the pouches in the trash to be sent to the dump. You can send your empty pouches to the school in a zipper bag with the straws removed. The conservation club will be readying them to mail to TerraCycle. With the 2 cents per pouch earned the conservation club will get to purchase something to add to the outdoor classroom pond or some other earth-friendly project. How many do you think we can collect before June?

Be Green through the Holidays

2009-12-17T20:59:00.002-05:00

Every little act of green will help. Reuse gift boxes, gift bags, and cards instead of tossing them and buying new. You can start a new tradition by writing inside the box or bag who gave and recieved the gift and what it was each year, so that in addition to the excitement of a gift, you give the joy of a memory. Recycle all plastic or cardboard containers that are labeled as recyclable. Reduce the amount of electric you use lighting the outdoor decorations by turning them off before you go to bed and switching to LED lights. Enjoy your holiday traditions, spread the spirit of the season, and give the gift of GREEN to future generations. Happy Holidays!

It's Is Like Christmas

2009-12-01T22:21:00.002-05:00

Mrs. Barber and I are excited about the items that have come in for Frog Bog because we just know that you are going to be as excited about it as we are when the weather warms and we can spend time outside planting and exploring. Here is just a short run down on what will be in our outdoor classroom: a bat house, ladybug houses, birdhouses, benches, a vegetable garden, a butterfly garden and bench, stone markers, and (my favorite) a twin-barrel composter and worm composter. In addition, the plants and trees will be planted by then so we can all enjoy them. If you would like to be part of the planting process, let us know. We will be looking for some good volunteers.

Cloth Napkin Tradition

2009-11-24T20:04:00.003-05:00

In room 104, we started a new Thanksgiving tradition this year for our literature feast. We saved trees by using cloth napkins and making napkin rings by reusing empty toilet paper rolls. It added a touch of elegance and personalization. It was our ONE change for conservation for the Thanksgiving holiday. What will you do to save our world?

Commit to Changing Just 1

2009-11-17T19:53:00.002-05:00

Commit to changing just one thing to conserve resources. Being green doesn't have to start as a huge commitment. Commit to changing just one thing to reduce, reuse, or recycle. It can be as easy as listening to that voice from the past that says to turn off the lights when you aren't in the room, fixing a leak, or packing lunches with reusable containers instead of plastic bags. For a list of great ideas that range from easy to hard, short-term trials to long-term projects like composting, check out One Million Acts of Green at http://www.greennexxus.com/omaog/index.aspx. The idea is that everybody working together to making one small green improvement in their life will add up to a big improvement for the world. And just maybe, they'll want to make one more small green improvement. Give it a try! Consider it an experiment or accept it as a challenge. Let us know how you do.

Veterans' Day

2009-11-11T21:20:00.002-05:00

Since 1938, Veterans' Day has been an national holiday to celebrate and honor our veterans who have served to protect our freedom and keep us safe. Though not as elaborate as a parade, I did clean out my closets and fill a bag for the Disabled American Veterans. Maybe someone can benefit by reusing my gently used clothes. The veterans can use the money to serve their purposes. Did you do anything to honor the veterans?

2009-11-03T21:19:00.004-05:00

Have you seen the Frog Bog at Creeds ES? It is the pond and its surrounding area behind the parking lot on the public library side of the school. It is the beginning phase of our outdoor classroom. The dream is to expand it to include a butterfly garden, a retirement garden, a vegetable garden, an amphibian habitat, and a compost project. It already includes nice mulch covered paths behind the pond and naturally growing plants. Check it out and let me know what you think.

Impressive Advances in Sustainability

2009-10-27T21:44:00.003-04:00

Today I went to the Renaissance Academy Building on Witchduck Road and Cleveland Street which is due to open in January. WOW! It is an impressive example of Virginia Beach Schools going GREEN. It has a green roof covered with small plants to keep the building more insulated from weather and sound. The building collects rain water for flushing toilets. It has a geothermal heating and cooling system whereby water travels in pipes underground. Since the temperature is mostly consistent at 58 degrees, the water doesn't need to be heated or cooled as much to provide a comfortable indoor atmosphere. These are just a few of the great ideas being implimented. You will soon be able to check it all out on-line as it becomes an educational tool for everyone with computer access. There is proof that it only takes a dream and a little initiative. I cannot wait to see what is next.

Our Future

2009-10-17T21:01:00.000-04:00

Our future is in your hands...each and every one of you. Conservation means protecting and saving our natural resources for the future. It is a decision you have to make for yourself. Every little bit will help. What can you commit to doing daily to help conserve resource? Ask our 1st graders what they do and you will get lots of "green" answers about reducing, reusing, and recycling.