By Florida Catholic staff - Florida Catholic
Photographer: COURTESY PHOTO
St. Thomas Aquinas students promoted "Earth Week" by selling T-shirts, reusable grocery bags, and BPA-free water bottles. With Dr. Seuss' eco-aware character the Lorax adorning the T-shirts, students couldn't resist the purchase for a good cause. Proceeds from the items were donated to The Ocean Conservancy.
FORT LAUDERDALE | As the world celebrated Earth Day April 22, St. Thomas Aquinas High School's Science Department extended the pro-green day to a week-long tribute.
“Earth
Week” at St. Thomas Aquinas, which ran from April 20 to April 24, educated students
about the environmental and health costs of using disposable plastics and
provided students with opportunities to live a “greener” lifestyle.
Student-made posters that included facts about disposable
plastics, especially disposable water bottles, were displayed around the
school. During morning announcements, facts about the negative impacts of disposable
plastics were also read.
Photographer: COURTESY PHOTO
A St. Thomas Aquinas student puts up a poster for "Earth Week." Facts about disposable plastics, especially disposable water bottles, were posted around the school. The school also screened the film "The Story of Bottled Water" at the beginning of science classes on Earth Day.
At the beginning of each science class on Earth Day, "The
Story of Bottled Water" was screened. The short film provided students
with a better understanding of how water bottle companies create artificial
demand to sell what is already nearly free. Film footage also showed what
happens to water bottles after they are disposed of. Through these efforts, St.
Thomas Aquinas raised student awareness of the environmental, health, and
monetary costs of disposable plastics.
To encourage students to lead a more
environmentally conscientious lifestyle, St. Thomas Aquinas sold reusable grocery
bags and reusable, BPA-free water bottles throughout the week. Earth Day
T-shirts were also sold and numerous students wore them on Friday as a demonstration
of their support for the week. Proceeds from these items were donated to The
Ocean Conservancy.
On Earth Day, students were given pencils made
from recycled newspaper to help illustrate the benefits of recycling paper and
other items instead of disposing of them in the trash. St. Thomas Aquinas’s
Marine Biology Club and AP Environmental Science classes held an Earth Day bake
sale to benefit the World Wildlife Fund.
“Earth Week” strengthened student
participation in Earth Day by reminding them to not only take care of the Earth
one day a year, but also that their everyday choices affect the entire
world and all of God’s creation.
This article was written by Jordan Mrha, a senior at St. Thomas Aquinas High.
