Fourth Grade Environmentalists

Fourth Graders Advocate to Reduce Plastic Straw Usage

Fourth Graders Ella Walker (Mrs. MacDonald)  and Olive McDemus (Mrs. Corcoran) meet with Ms  Fishman, Cafeteria Assistant Manager

Ella Walker and Olive McDemus approached Principal Oldach about their concerns about the use of plastic and Styrofoam in our cafeteria.  Ella and Olive met with Mr Stevens, Food Services Director and Ms. Fishman, Jenkins Cafeteria Assistant Manager to learn more about the products that our cafeteria uses and possible alternative solutions.  

• After doing research, Ella and Olive found that Jenkins students can help the environment by reducing the use of plastic straws in our cafeteria.  
• Plastic straws hurt animals because they mistake the straws for food and the animals cannot digest the plastic and they can be harmed easily.  
• A plastic straw can take 200 years to decompose and this releases chemicals into the soil, air, and water which is harmful to all living things.

The students proposed that plastic straws only be available to our younger students in the kindergarten and first-grade lunches.  Ms. Fishman agreed, and the girls informed students on the Morning Announcements of the changes.   Thank you to Ella and Olive, who are making a difference to our school and environment!