Riverview Alternative School

January 27, 2009

The EarthCARE Green Team at Riverview Alternative School and their leader Beth Stubbert host an Environment Fair in the school gymnasium each year. This year's fair is planned for Earth Day, April 22.

The changing bulletin board displays and permanent murals in the halls of Riverview remind you that you are part of a much larger world, e.g., all the students photos are posted with the title 'We all have something in Common', a large 'Earth puzzle' shows the names of students who bring environmentally friendly lunches, a wall mural of the world with hands reaching across the continents, titled 'We have to work together – The world is in our hands'.

This expression of care is one of the main reasons for the environment fair. Students, parents and staff raise funds to support students at their twinned school, Bokoro Primary in Lesotho, Africa. They have become their pen-pals, exchanging letters, banners, art work and this January, a scrap book.

Items for sale at the fair are all made by the students from used materials e.g, shoe planters, water bottle treasures, Lesotho flag name pins, note cards, coffee can storage containers, wall hangings, bird feeders. This year they will sell many of their own plants and herb sachets from herbs in their garden. Individual classes and the Green Team will continue to design more environmental games that raise awareness about saving energy and waste management.