Amanda Johnson Havre Daily News ajohnson@havredailynews.com
Students, staff, cooks and custodians are getting their green on at Gildford’s North Star elementary School. The school has implemented its first ever “Get Your Green On” campaign to teach students how to reduce, reuse and recycle. “We do a fitness program every year (at the school) and this year we decided to teach the kids how to keep our earth fit," said Dana Donoven, secretary at North Star Elementary School. "It seems there are so many companies and businesses that are going green we thought we would join the bandwagon and teach the kids at a young age. “We talk about things at breakfast every day and then we do various activities throughout the year,” she added. “Our program's name is Get Your Green On. We are teaching the kids about recycling, conservation and how to protect our precious earth. We set up a recycling center here at the school for newspaper, aluminum and plastic. We only collect what is here at the school and are encouraging the students to start their own centers at home.” Donoven is also publishing a monthLy health and wellness newsletter with different sections of information, such as healthy snacking, exercise, craft, recycling and more. A highlight of the newsletter is a question students find the answer to in one of the articles, in order to have their name placed in a drawing. All of the prizes for the drawings are made from recycled materials. “We also have a Conservation Tip of the Day’ every morning at breakfast," she said. "I encourage the students to help me come up with ideas. They have also been busy making posters about getting your green on. The goal of the yearlong program is to teach our kids to take care of our planet for their children to enjoy." In Havre, a local recycling group which has yet to chose a name for its group is working to enhance recycling throughout the community. People who would like to join the effort or who want more information can call Candi Zion at 265-9533 or attend a meeting at the Havre- Hill County Library held the third Tuesday of every month at 7 p.m.
