PART III OBJECTIVE 2: WATER CONSERVATION /WATER POLLUTION PREVENTION
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Tree and Shrub Plantings
In the fall of 2011 trees and shrubs were obtained through the Maryland Department of Natural Resource's TREE-mendous program and planted in various locations around the school property. These trees and shrubs aid in soil retention, erosion control, and water filtration. When they mature they will aid in intercepting water and hence slow down storm water runoff. The slowly absorbed water will assist in recharging water-holding aquifers. They will also help to retain soil and particulate runoff, which could have ended up in storm drains and then local streams feeding into lakes and rivers. The trees and shrubs also act as natural filters for pollutants and other chemicals, preventing these raw elements from being directly deposited in our waterways.
The whole school was involved with our stenciling project. The Green Team Ambassadors did a presentation on the project for each grade level. Each grade level sent representatives to do the stenciling. We planned to stencil 10 storm drains around our school on March 15, however the weather did not cooperate. This project will be finished in the spring of 2013.
Storm Drain Stenciling
Shown are the authorization letters from the county and the homeowners associations.
Rain Garden
Our rain garden was installed in August of 2012. The Green Team Ambassadors planned and delivered presentations to all the grade levels. Their presentation included the how, what, and why about rain gardens.
Water Conservation Makes the Morning "News" at FRES!
Fourth-grade students from Girl Scout Troop 907 worked on earning a badge for their troop called the Wonders of Water. In doing so they learned about the importance of water conservation and ways to save water. Several of the troop members shared this information with the school community by reading conservation tips on the morning announcements during the week of March 25th, 2013, creating a bulletin board showing the amount of water used in a shower, and designing "Don't Waste Water" posters for the water fountains.
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