Two innovative Woodland Heights Elementary third graders are passing the torch to underclassmen of an earth friendly project they developed when they were just in first grade.
Mattie Perry and Jordan Roberts say they came up with the idea at a sleep over when they decided to develop a good project to do at school. After considering several ideas, they agreed to form a group that would be involved in recycling, which is now affectionately called the “Green Team”.
They first brought their idea to Woodland Heights counselor Kimber Bennett who was very supportive of the plan.
“They came up with the whole idea,” stated Bennett. “They came up with the idea to meet with Cary Perrin of Keep Brownwood Beautiful. Both of them did the whole meeting.”
Bennett stated that the girls told Perrin what they planned to do at the school. Perrin along with Keep Brownwood Beautiful donated green recycling buckets and a year’s worth of liners for the recycling buckets.
Perry and Roberts then went to work deciding what the Green Team meetings would address each month and to teach the group about recycling and its benefits. They created posters, made public service announcements, and developed special posters during Christmas and Spring Break to remind the members and other students to keep recycling even over school breaks.
“It’s not just our words, it’s our actions,” said Perry. “Actions speak louder than words.”
“We had to show people what we are about or they wouldn’t believe us,” said Roberts.
Bennett said the girls have accomplished some great things in just three years, along with the help of Robert’s mother, Diane Roberts, who helps take all of the group’s collections to the recycling center. Bennett reported that the school has taken six Suburban loads of recyclables to the recycling center since the Green Team was formed.
Because the two founders are third graders and will promote to fourth grade at another campus, new leaders must be found. Bennett said that Roberts and Perry will help choose new members of the Green Team as well as its new leaders.
“It’s going to be hard match them, these two take it and run,” said Bennett. “It’ll be hard to find two leaders like them.”
Roberts and Perry want to take this idea on to 4th grade, but first will help Bennett with the new member and leader selection process.
To be on the Green Team, students must have the following:
- Good Grades, As and Bs
- Good Attitude
- Good Character: Responsible, have respect honor and integrity
Members learn to reduce, reuse, recycle and regenerate. The most important part of the Green Team’s mission is to take care of their campus at Woodland Heights and teach others to take care of the world, according to Roberts, Perry and Bennett.
Eight members will be selected from each grade for next year’s team.
Some of the current year’s members told why they wanted to be on the Green Team and why they thought it was important to recycle and take care of the environment.
“To help save the environment and keep the world balanced,” said Cooper Swanzy.
“I would like to save the earth and recycle, I want to make the earth so green that all the trees will grow and not be used up,” said Ragan Stewart.
“It’s really fun to pick up trash and clean the road. I want to help the world,” stated Remi Hoffman.
“I joined to help keep earth clean, keep school clean so there isn’t trash all over the world,” said Caden Reagan.
“It’s important to recycle, without recycling there’d be too much litter and the earth wouldn’t be safe,” said Latera Strawbridge.
Shelby Wilson said, “I love cleaning up our campus, you might get germs but you can wash them.”
Luke Morris said, “I joined because I love saving the earth. It’s an awesome place because without earth, we wouldn’t be here, we’d be like aliens. We’ve been doing some awesome things and doing a good job.”
Pictured at top (left to right): Bailey Perry, Woodland Heights Elementary counselor Kimber Benett and Jordan Roberts.
Pictured below are: Perry and Roberts and a picture of the current Green Team
