By ROWENA PLETT

Staff writer

The Kansas Association for Conservation and Environmental Education has named Centre Elementary School at Lost Springs as the 2010 Kansas (Elementary) Green School of the Year.

Principal Jerri Kemble will officially accept the award on behalf of the students at a special ceremony Friday in Topeka. Marci Penner, executive director of Kansas Sampler Foundation, will be honorary chairman of the event. Kemble will receive a big banner to display at the school.

At 1 p.m. April 30, Centre Elementary School will hold a special assembly to celebrate the award. It will recognize the many student activities that led to the honor.

The idea for the environmental effort was planted the last day of the 2008-09 school year when six third-grade girls approached Kemble about their desire to “recycle, reuse, reduce, and rethink” how things are done at the school.

Kemble ran with the idea and prepared the staff for a new environmental emphasis in the following school year.

Teachers were trained in recycling at an in-service in August, and the 2009-10 school year was launched with the theme, “Go Green.” It emphasized a new way of doing things.

The girls whose concerns launched the program, now fourth graders, developed four Green Teams to direct recycling efforts every week at the school. Their leadership has led to recycling by parents and day care providers, as well.

School garden

Under the direction of master gardener Kirk Cusick, CES students have begun a flourishing school garden, with produce that is eaten in the school’s lunchroom. They also manage a worm farm inside the school for production of natural fertilizer to be used in the garden.

A video is being developed to be shared with schools around the state to encourage more school gardens.

According to Kemble, the students exhibit energy and enthusiasm for “going green.” They are excited to show visitors classroom recycling bins and the school garden.

“This project started with six young children wanting to make a difference in their school,” Kemble said.

“They have not only made a difference in their school, they have made a difference in the school district and in the county, and now they are moving forward to make a difference in the state of Kansas.”