Dr. Ben Churchill, Superintendent
Students Serving the Community
Maybe you have seen Kelly Elementary School fifth graders walking their neighborhood streets and trails, looking for trash (with masks and physically distanced, of course). Or a student-designed poster (“Don’t Be Mean. Keep It Green”) at a park, bus stop, or other places where trash tends to build up. These eco-aware students are working to protect our ocean, waterways, and lagoons from polluted storm run-off from litter in our community.
Mrs. Biggie and Mrs. Layman’s fifth grade classes are taking part in the Trash Amendment Action Plan (TrAAP) to increase awareness of the impact of trash and litter in their school and community. Each Wednesday–an Independent Study day on Kelly School’s current hybrid schedule–its students attend an online TrAAP session before completing that week’s assignment. Over the course of six weeks, they make a map of their neighborhood; they walk it to record where and what kind of trash has been disposed of inappropriately; next, after compiling all students’ data, they put together a public awareness campaign, complete with slogans and posters; and then they assess the results of their outreach effort and make a public presentation about their project. The program aligns with State curriculum standards and Next Generation Science standards. Offered through BCK Programs LLC, in collaboration with the city of Carlsbad and local water agencies, TrAAP students develop skills in mapping, data collection, marketing, community engagement, and public presentation.
“When students went out into their neighborhoods and saw where trash had piled up, they could see it was a problem,” explains Mrs. Biggie. “They are learning how they can be part of a positive change, succeed in influencing others, and make a meaningful impact in their community.”
Carlsbad Seaside Academy’s (CSA) teacher Sarah Rines is currently launching a TrAAP program for her 6th grade class. That will soon be followed by a program for all CSA seventh graders.
