J.C. Parks earns second Oceans Guardians banner
Commended for efforts to promote recycling, protect watershed
Science and watershed conservation were on full display Friday as J.C. Parks Elementary School welcomed its second “Ocean Guardians” banner from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).
The school held a program for parents, community members and fellow students on the environment and watershed conservation Friday morning in celebration of receiving its second banner.
Parks became the first elementary school in Maryland, and the second school of any level in the state, to receive the Ocean Guardians designation last year with its first banner. North Point High School was the first Ocean Guardian School in the state.
To become an Ocean Guardian School, a school must make a commitment to the protection and conservation of its local watersheds, the ocean and special ocean areas, such as national marine sanctuaries. The school must propose and implement hands-on school- and community-based conservation projects, according to the Ocean Guardian School website.
The Ocean Guardians program is administered through NOAA’s Office of National Marine Sanctuaries.
To receive its second year banner, the school’s Green Team has initiated a number of projects, including reducing school waste and recycling milk cartons, using a hydration system utilizing reusable water containers, field trips and research opportunities at Chapman State Park, Pomonkey School Stream and Mallows Bay, recycling a tractor tire to create a solar powered water fountain, created raised garden beds to grow food for the school and local food banks and planted native plants on school grounds to help clean rainwater.
Paul “Sammy” Orlando, NOAA Chesapeake Bay regional coordinator, commended students on their efforts.
“I look forward to coming down to J.C. Parks as often as I can possibly get here, and already I’m blown away,” Orlando said. “I know the world’s changing, and it’s changing for the better because of what they’re doing here today. I’m very pleased that we at NOAA can be a part of that and I look forward to more things.”
Parks science teacher Deanna Wheeler said the school, with the help of local artist Vicki Marckel, a teacher at Thomas E.
Lackey High School, has put up part one an watershed-themed mural.
“We’re going to put part two of the mural up this year, so get ready to paint again,” Wheeler told students.
Using funds from last year’s Ocean Guardians grant, and working with volunteers from the Naval Support Facility Indian Head, the school has put together an Augmented Reality Sandbox. In an AR Sandbox, users are able to mold sand, which is augmented in real time using a computer and projectors to show an elevation color map, topographic contour lines and simulated water flow.
“We are the … third place in Maryland to have a fully powered-up [Augmented Reality Sandbox], there are only a couple hundred in the whole nation,” Wheeler said.
In addition, the school’s Green Team declared the month as “No Straw December” and students pledged to reduce the amount of plastic straws they threw away for the month.
Fifth grader Alicia Warren, one of the student presenters, said that straws are one of the top 10 pollutants in the ocean.
“The plastic straw is a gateway plastic, which means that it is one of the first plastics that everyone uses the most but they do not need to use,” Warren said.
“Plastic straws are the worst,” added Ahman Johnson, a fifth grader. “We want to reduce the number of straws we use in December and forever.”
Wheeler also commended the school’s Green Team for its efforts.
“I think our Green Team is a beacon … and a beacon requires people to shine, and to work collaboratively together,” Wheeler said.