The Forest Grove Elementary School hit new heights this month as they achieved a district first — the school placed first in the province amongst the 50-150 student category in the Encorp Elementary School Recycling Program for recycling a grand total of 69,197 containers between last July to this May.
Between the Encorp recycling program and other recycling the school has done, the school has returned over 100,000 different containers this school year.
“I’m so impressed,” says principal Mikel Brogan. “It’s a pretty big feat for us. I’m really proud of everyone.”
Despite not doing all of their recycling through the Encorp program, the school still came out 16,027 containers ahead of the next closest school.
For their efforts, the school earned a $1,000 prize on top of the money they’ve raised through recycling.
Overall, from recycling alone, the school has raised slightly over $12,000. Including their prize and their June recycling efforts, Brogan says he expects the school to reach a grand total of $14,000.
The school uses their money to fund field trips, the school food program, which provides hot lunches every two weeks and breakfasts three days a week, as well as a variety of PAC sponsored programs. Previous projects have included a new playground for the school, as well as a school-wide art project designed to build connections and create ownership around the school.
The school runs two bottle drives throughout the year, as well as an ongoing recycling program where students recycle in the school. Community members can drop off recycling either at the school or with another community member involved in the program.
“It’s such a community school and [there’s] so much involvement and so much passion from the teachers and from the parents and just from community members. Everyone’s just worked really hard and well together and our reputation I think is getting out there.”
The school itself collected 27,727 aluminum cans, 20,407 plastic containers up to 1L, 7,226 glass beer and cider bottles and 3,072 juice boxes for the Encorp program, among other types of containers.
For the full details, see Encorp’s website.
“It’s something where all the kids are constantly recycling anything. We have recycling bins throughout the school so that kids really understand. It’s something we really talk about — taking care of the environment and how to do it and it’s something that everyone is really on board with out here,” says Brogan.
“It’s a small school but there are so many good things happening.”
