This week, the City of Turlock is going green.
Various community organizations, schools, teachers and city staff will all participate in the seventh annual Go Green Week, which runs from Monday through Friday.
Through the successful public education campaign, the City of Turlock encourages Turlockers to demonstrate their environmental awareness and promote sustainable living. By teaching young students about earth-friendly behaviors, the City of Turlock’s Go Green Week helps students and parents learn about conservation and various pollution prevention techniques.
With information on recycling, composting, water conservation, and other activities, students get the unique opportunity to learn more about what it means to live a green lifestyle.
“A special thanks to the City of Turlock and the efforts of Turlock Waste Management towards providing materials for the week,” said Walnut Elementary School teacher Bret Sutterley. “We have events planned for the entire week.”
At Walnut Elementary School, students involved with student leadership will run a recycling program throughout the week. Students who bring in six cans or bottles receive raffle tickets to win green prizes, Sutterley said. The Renaissance and Discovery students are also providing “Green messages” every morning during the school’s opening.
On Monday, fourth graders participated in a recycled art project. Today the fifth graders will plant trees on campus, and on Wednesday sixth graders will tour Turlock's recycling center. Wednesday will also be Wear Green to School Day. On Thursday, kindergarten to third grade students will attend a special assembly, where Python Ron will share his critters and discuss the importance of preserving wild lands. Also on Thursday, a special recycling event will be held for the afternoon kindergarten students.
Finally, on Friday, Walnut students and many other students at other TUSD campuses will celebrate Read Across America Day and wrap up the week with a film festival.
“During the film festival, we will bring in all the recycled cans and bottles to share with the entire school so that they can see the impact they have had on recycling,” said Sutterley.
Each year, students at all Turlock Unified School District schools are given green bracelets to wear throughout the week.
In the past, local organizations that have participated in making Go Green Week a success include representatives from California State University, Stanislaus, Turlock Irrigation District, Stanislaus County Department of Education and Department of Environmental Resources, the United States Department of Agriculture, Natural Resources Conservation Service, Turlock Recycling Company, The Great Valley Museum of Natural Science, The Greenery Nursery and the City of Turlock Municipal Services Department.
These organizations, and many others, join with teachers and staff to plan activities that correlate to what students have been learning in the classroom throughout the school year.
From planting trees, to recycling contests, the ‘Go Green’ program is both fun and educational as students get hands-on experience while also earning prizes.
In 2010, Dutcher Middle School’s Go Green Week program featured a video contest where students were encouraged to create the best environmentally-themed music video. The winning song, “I’m a Recycler” by student Ben Marson, can be viewed here.
To view more ‘Go Green’ inspired videos by students, please visit http://www.ci.turlock.ca.us/citydepartments/municipalservices/gogreen/psa.asp.
