Earth Day 2021: Restore Our Earth

Thursday, April 22, is Earth Day, which is celebrated around the world as an opportunity to focus on taking care of our planet, and all of her inhabitants. The theme for this year's Earth Day is how together we have the power to "restore our Earth."

At Flagstaff Academy, there are many activities happening that nurture the idea that together everyone in our school community can make a difference in restoring our Earth. The school's kindergarten "Dragons" will be learning about the "3 Rs." (Reduce, Reuse, Recycle), finding ways to reduce waste in their classrooms by reusing items for new creations, and sorting recycled items. Fourth-graders are participating in a campus cleanup.

Fifth-graders have been learning about ecology, and are creating models of the Earth's four major spheres. Then, they will finish the year with a science unit on protecting Earth's resources. At the Flagstaff Academy Greenhouse Classroom, students are restoring the Earth one plant at a time, planting for both beauty and bounty.

In middle school, every student will get a 20-minute science lesson on topics that include pollution, global warming, and sea-level change, biodiversity, and deforestation. The students will be challenged to think about many different aspects of Earth Day, such as conservation, recycling, and issues facing humans and animals across the world.

The school's student-led "Green Team" (fifth through eighth graders) recently was awarded a $6,000 grant from the Colorado Department of Education and $15,000 from Flagstaff Academy's PTO for a project to convert the west berm on campus into a native prairie garden that will also double as an outdoor classroom space. More than a science space, the outdoor space will be available for the entire PK-8th grade to use for everything from science, language arts, visual arts, reflection, connection, relaxation, and fun.

Finally, during April, Flagstaff Academy's all-school service project is collecting shoes to donate to Soles4Souls. The entire school enthusiastically supports their mission, which helps families going through crisis, lifts people out of poverty in developing countries, and protects the planet by repurposing unwanted items.

Whether Flagstaff Academy's students are in-person, remote, or hybrid, Earth Day reflects the school's commitment to environmental stewardship, responsibility, and exemplifies the school's Dragon PRIDE.

About Flagstaff Academy: Founded in 2005, Flagstaff Academy has built an exceptional educational environment which values developing the whole child through an award-winning Pre-K to 8th Grade Core Knowledge academic program. The curriculum is rich with experiential arts, hands-on science exploration, character education, and innovative technology integration. Now accepting applications for the 2021-22 school year. Learn more at http://www.flagstaffacademy.org.