Seven schools were selected as Hampton Green School Award winners for 2019. The awards are based on participation in the Hampton Clean City Commission’s School Pride In Action Committee, litter prevention efforts, recycling and waste reduction programs, beautification activities, energy conservation, water quality and conservation programs, environmental clubs (ecology, science, beautification, gardening, Heifer, and related clubs), and environmental education for teachers and students.
Booker Elementary School conducted cleanups, participated in regular recycling as well as plastic bag recycling, planted flowers, and focused on environmental education throughout the month of April. The school’s two environmental clubs, the Heifer Club and the Gardening Club, contributed to the beautification and recycling efforts at the school. The school recycled more than 2,096 gallons of commingled recyclables, an amount approximately equal to 5,870 pounds. The school recycled 125 pounds of plastic bags and won third place in the Kroger Zero Hunger Zero Waste Plastic Bag Recycling Challenge, receiving a $500 award. In addition, Booker Elementary School opened its doors for participants in the Remarkable Trees of Hampton Tour three times in the course of the year.
Eaton Middle School cleaned up their campus, participated in regular recycling efforts, and hosted a Navy group that cleaned up the creek adjacent to the school. In addition, members of the Ecology Club participated in raised bed vegetable gardening, using water collected from rain barrels.
Gloria Dei Lutheran Middle School adopted their campus and the surrounding area. In addition to cleaning up their spot, the school's students participated in a number of projects, including worm composting, bird house establishment, beautification of their grounds, and most recently, the installation of a rain garden.
Kecoughtan High School participates in weekly cleanups throughout the fall and spring, and maintains a butterfly garden and additional plant beds throughout the year. The Ecology Club also installed boxwood planter boxes near the gym and portable classroom entrances. The school recycles in the regular school recycling program, and also collected plastic bags and wrap for the Kroger Zero Hunger Zero Waste Plastic Bag Recycling Challenge, in which they placed second for secondary schools and received a $750 award. Throughout Earth Week, environmental announcements written by students were made daily.
Langley Elementary School participates in regular Green Team student-led cleanup efforts. In addition, they participate in both the regular school recycling program and the plastic bag recycling program. The students recycled 12,600 gallons of commingled recyclables, the equivalent of 35,280 pounds of recyclables (17+ TONS!). An added environmental education bonus is the bee hive maintained by the Beekeeping Club.
Phenix School participates in regular school recycling as well as plastic bag recycling. The school won the elementary first place in the Kroger Zero Hunger Zero Waste Plastic Bag Recycling Challenge, with an award of $1,000! They recycled 626 pounds of plastic bags and wrap. The school has a Green Team that helps with recycling and promoting environmental activities of various sorts, including the gardening effort. In addition the Career Fair organizers invited Hampton Clean City Commission to present marine debris information at its career fairs. HCCC also conducted a Recycling Pizza activity for select sixth grade students.
Spratley Gifted Center has an active litter prevention program that includes participating in the Adopt-A-Spot program for their school grounds, the International Coastal Cleanup, and Clean the Bay Day. In fact, Spratley won the Extra Mile Adopt-A-Spot Award for cleaning up between 10 and 19 times throughout the year. The school recycles an amazing amount, 20,160 gallons of commingled recyclables, the equivalent of 56,448 pounds (28+ tons) of recyclables! When they’re not recycling and cleaning up, they’re maintaining their outdoor classroom habitat area, vegetable gardening, composting, raising trout and oysters, installing rain gardens, and holding a Shark Tank experience to address erosion issues. They still found time to take environmental education field trips to Ft Monroe, Sandy Bottom Nature Park and Bethel Landfill!
Green School Honorable Mention Awards were presented to Asbury Elementary School, Hampton Christian Lower Academy, Moton Early Childhood Center, Rivermont School, and Smith Elementary School.