RCK GreenWorks!

Envirothon

2009-05-05T20:10:00.002-04:00

CONGRATS TO BOTH TEAMS :)
SPLENDID JOB!

In celebration, we'll have a picnic next Tuesday (May 12th) outdoors next to our greenhouse if the weather permits us. Please remember about food allergies. Comment if you want to bring something (food or games). Let's make this a blast.

April 14, 2009 Updates : Envirothon

2009-04-15T19:27:00.002-04:00

Congrats on being on the RCK Envirothon team:
Team One:

Kevin Rohle
Victoria Ly
Tom Chen
Emily Du
Lindsey Chew
alt: Zach Cox

Team Two:

Taylor Longenberger
Carolyn Rozycki
Rhia Dasgupta
Ranjani Sunil
Jenna DeRario
Alt: Daniel Slater

Hopefully you guys are studying hard because if we're going to win, we've got to be dedicated. Unfortunately, this is the time for the split. We should study with our own teams respectively, but if you've got a question, feel free to ask the entire club! It would be great to have one RCK team win!

We plan to hold earth club/envirothon meetings on Monday's and Tuesday's until the Envirothon event, April 30th. Ace! Ace! Ace! Study here: http://www.nysenvirothon.net/StudyGuides.html

For the love of earth, smile :D

Mr. Luhmann Just Had a Baby!

2009-04-01T18:40:00.003-04:00

HAPPY APRIL'S FOOLS DAY!!!!!
Just kidding...it actually happened.
Congrats! :)

-- Envirothon news: You need to be in at least four meetings before going to the envirothon. Open those day planners & check out Spring Break.

March 10, 2009 updates

2009-03-10T19:52:00.003-04:00

The attendance list was a tad low today, but that's alright. With Emily D., Jani S., Daniel S., Lindsey C., and Tom C., we had several accomplishments. Together, we planned for our first field trip! Yay! We're deciding sometime before April 30th to go down to Vassar College to inspect their greenhouse and agriculture center. With spring chirping in with the birds, more field trips can be planned, so start using those right hemispheres! :)

Continuing with our friendly updates, next meeting will be mandatory. We would really like to finish grouping the envirothon members and start studying. We're mostly slacking and we don't finish our to-do lists...bad earth club! *slap on wrist* Anyway, I know some earth club members are also in Science Olympiad, and states is only a few days away! So if any member can't come to the next meeting, please R.S.V.P A.S.A.P.

See if you can make these dates: March 16th, March 23rd, and April 27th.
They're all Mondays, so see if you're free!

Also, we'll most likely start the battery and ink cartridge recycling soon. Don't worry about that, just keep it in your mind.

That's all for now, folks :)
For the love of earth!

Plans for March 3rd, 2009 (Tuesday)

2009-02-27T19:39:00.000-05:00

Alrighty, well first off, are you guys available for the next RCK GreenWorks meeting? I know there's a few people who are in the Masque and Mime production for the weekend...so, just give us some feedback.

Sorry for the people who went to the meeting last week only to find out we had cancelled. Little school emergencies came up, and a majority of the club members couldn't attend.

For all the hungry munchkins in earth club, yes, the food-eaters, we might start a snack schedule. I know, it's hard enough to feed your families in a time of depression and economic disasters, but try to feed your friendly earth-savers :)

We're also thinking about new recycling campaigns. There's a LOT to recycle: cans, bottles, ink cartridges, batteries, cell phones, etc. Come to the club with some brand-spanking new ideas. We'll also continue on the display case, green house, and paper recycling.

We also have several events to plan. We're going to have another earth club party soon? Yeah...and also Taylor L. has so considerately offered to lead us in the recycled-bead making ways. Whoo! Also, we need to start the envirothon...so consider your events! Everything will be finalized on Tuesday.

- For the love of earth, smile :D

February 22nd, 2009 UPDATES!

2009-02-22T13:23:00.000-05:00

Hey everyone,
It's been a while since we updated our status. For the past weeks we have been decorating the display case and thinking of new ideas for the greenhouse. We have also been recycling! But hey, next time you recycle, make sure you get the earth club's, Mr. Manzo's, room :)

I guess we'll start the discussion with the display case. In case you have forgotten, a few members got together and drew up a flag. While this flag is in the display case, it is accompanied by a blow-up globe. Michelle H. and Jenna D., are you still going to create the paper maché earth? At last week's meeting, February 17th, we created a list of achievements, and also a poster about Going Organic. Good job you guys for the teamwork :) For the next meeting,

1. we'll probably make more posters about themes and ideas for going green and helping the environment. These boards sure add some color!

2. Also, we'll make the little facts that we're hanging off the shelves. Therefore, think ahead and find some interesting facts! Make sure you get them from reputable sites.

Alrighty, onto the next topic. It seems like the heater is working, but the fan is still questionable...we'll be writing up a grant for $500. Hopefully we'll find out in April :D Anyway, we need plants to grow in our greenhouse. Unfortunately, we can't grow anything to eat...even if it means starving our groundhogs Goliath and Delilah. Taylor L. has generously donated some radish seeds. We're planning to grow some sunflowers in there, too. Think of some perennial plants, okay? (P.S, perennial = comes back every year)

Oh yes, the envirothon! Remember how it's in April? We should really think of studying...Is it possible to study every Thursday, five weeks before the competition, April 30th? This plan works for many people involved. We could probably be allowed to study in Mr. Johnson's learning center. Also, many people thinking of competiting want to do wildlife. We can only have 2 people, and it's not an easy task. You'll really need to stay intouch with your innner beast. Can you indentify animals by their skulls, their pelts, their footprints? This will require major research. Visit http://www.nysenvirothon.net/ if you want to check it out again.

IMPORTANT ANNOUNCEMENT

2009-02-08T11:30:00.000-05:00

On February 10th, (THIS TUESDAY), there is going to be a mandatory meeting. For the last few weeks, we haven't accomplished as much as we had hoped to. Our club's attendance has been dwindling for the past weeks.

Our plans for that meeting:
1. decorate the display case
2. arrange the greenhouse layout
3. decide what flowers we will grow & how long it takes them to grow
(please donate seeds or flowers)
4. recycle!

** We will also talk about the CANON Envirothon. Unfortunately, we can take only 6 students; 5 "teammates" and one backup. These students will participate, and be excused, for one school day. Regionals will be on April 30th, 2009 at Sharpe Reservation. For more information, please check http://www.envirothon.org/index.php . We'll most likely take a poll for who's going. The first 6 students to show their interest will have the highest priority.

January 6th, 2009 UPDATES!

2009-01-07T19:41:00.000-05:00

Hi everyone. Happy 2009! Hope you guys had a great winter break.

Anyway, we accomplished many things on Jan. 6th, 2009.
1. Wrote the Greenhouse proposal to Mrs. Lazarus
2. Recycled paper from the science wing, math office, and Mrs. Flanigan's room
3. Finished painting our RCK Green Works flag which is now in our showcase that we cleared
4. Jotted some ideas about the showcase

Attendance Sheet:
1. Taylor L.
2. Lindsey C.
3. Emily D.
4. Tom C.
5. Victoria L.
6. Ranjani S.
7. Daniel S.
8. Jenna D.
9. Carolyn R.
10. Rhia D.

For the next meeting (hopefully, Tuesday, January 13th), please think of new ideas for our showcase. So far, we have thought of a "Clean and Green" and "Toxic/Global Warming" side. ** Also, we have thought of an idea to write thank you letters to those teachers involved with helping RCK Green Works (like the science teachers). **

December 17th, 2008 UPDATES!

2008-12-18T22:03:00.000-05:00

Wonderful work you guys :) We accomplished SO MUCH. Basically, we had a holiday party (thanks to all the people who brought in food).
1. Taylor L. is now our elected secretary.
2. Taylor and Emily started a banner.
3. We planned eco-friendly ideas for the winter.
4. We recycled paper in the science wings.

During winter break, please consider the Greenhouse. We need ideas for what we are going to do with it. Ranjani suggested that we could sell roses for Valentine's Day, and that sounds pretty dandy. Also we need to think of events or activities we could do during the winter (and because it is winter, please note that we can't go to the beach or go kite flying). Anyway, if you have any ideas, email us or add a comment to the blog. Thanks.

Well, that's it! Happy Kwanzaa! Happy Hanukkah! Merry Christmas! Happy New Year! Happy Holidays!

Attendance sheet:
1. Emily D.
2. Taylor L.
3. Ranjani S.
4. Victoria L.
5. Lindsey C.
6. Zach C.
7. Jenna D.
8. Tom C.

Mr. Johnson's Biology classes.

2008-12-12T18:15:00.000-05:00

Hopefully you stumbled onto this blog because of Mr. Johnson's weekly assignments. As the blog said, you are supposed to post an eco-friendly tip here. To comment, just click the "add comment" button below this blog entry, and it should resemble Mr. Johnson's blog format. Thanks!

December 11th, 2008 UPDATES!

2008-12-11T06:46:00.000-05:00

Hey Everyone,

note: plans for next week's meeting, and here they are:

1. Create a document (probably an essay/letter) addressed to Mrs. Lazarus about why we need the greenhouse and what we'll use it for.

2. Appoint a secretary for the group that can take attendance weekly

3. Create a banner for Earth Club (Taylor and I will bring the materials)

4. Recycle paper from the science rooms

5. Compile a list of eco-friendly present ideas for the holidays

6. Print, hang, and announce those ideas

7. Create a blog (Real vs. Fake Christmas trees) for Mr. H. Johnson's website

The Green Work that needs to be done during this week is:

- Please let me know if you're available to attend next meeting!!!!!!!!!

- Blog to the website telling us what presents are eco-friendly!!!!!!!!!

Our last meeting, held on Tuesday (Dec. 9, 2008), was a great success. I am very proud of our accomplishments, as you should be, too. We were very organized and got a lot done. Kudos to everyone who helped!!!

Tasks Accomplished (ohh what a hearty list...):

1. Unlocked the Greenhouse

2. Emptied the greenhouse (filled with a gigantic amount of materials) and swept the water out

3. Sorted and threw away broken/malfunctioning items and kept the rest

4. Neatly and pristinely stacked the remaining pots, bins, hoses, watering cans, gloves, planters, water dispensers, bird feed, minerals, soil, and other things

5. Checked the heater (it IS working, but I believe that the fan is broken)

6. Reviewed the "how to" of creating and writing blog entries

Wonderful, wonderful job, guys... :) Our green project for this coming week is to think of new projects for the future. If you have an idea for the wintertime that you'd like to see become accomplished, let us know. Feel free to comment on each others' blogs that have been created. You can definitely blog to mine and ask me questions, give me some ideas, or just talk to me.

Great great work last time, guys. :] I think our efforts made everyone feel a lot greener...

Mr. Manzo:

Here is the list of people who attended yesterday's meeting. I thought it might be a good idea to keep an attendance record for the club, just in case it is needed for volunteer hours and other purposes. It's just sort of handy.

Dec. 9, 2008: Nine Students Attended:

- Emily D.

- Zachary C.

- Jenna D.

- Carolyn R.

- Taylor L.

- Ranjani S.

- Daniel S.

- Lindsey C.

- Adriana

Also, when should we meet next? Are you available Tuesday of next week? Please let me know, and I will make an announcement.

December 2nd, 2008 UPDATES!

2008-12-02T19:17:00.000-05:00

note: We came up with several ideas for the name; "Green Works". Unfortunately, it's already used by a cleaning company, and we don't want to get sued... So far, Zach gave us "Project Green", and "Metamorphosis". Just keep on thinking about it, and please post some of your thoughts as a comment. As a reminder about internet safety, don't use your last name!

Hey guys,

Our meeting today,12/02/08, went well. We gained MANY MANY new members and are so excited to start projects that will truly impact and benefit our school's environment. Although our thoughts and participation were somewhat disorganized during this meeting, I think we are off to a great start!

Here are some preliminary thoughts on future events/projects. These ideas may or may not be used.:

- Save the whales

- Sneaker/clothes collecting

- Gain publicity for the club

- Compost bin

- Field trips

- Slogan, mission statement, catchy new name

- Jingles/commercials

- Receive a free tree from the Arbor Day foundation

- Create a colorful and bright Earth Club banner

- Clean and utilize the greenhouse/sell plants for fundraising

- Use a sponsored name to gain popularity and members

- Create a blog/website

- Create a blog assignment for Mr. Johnson's blog next week

- Create membership agreement for members to sign up

GREENWORKS ASSIGNMENTS FOR THIS WEEK:

Assignments can be found here on the blog, OR, in the email updates.

Here are the assignments for this week:

1. Try to think of a new name/acronym/slogan for Earth Club. This new title should be official and informative. Even if you cannot think of a whole title, fragments and pieces of titles are good.

2. Also, please research two sites that feature controversy over whether real trees or fake trees are better for the environment and/or two sites that state the pros and cons of real/fake Christmas trees. These sites will be used for Mr. Henry Johnson's BioBlog next week.

What's going in in Earth Club next week?

Next week, we will first be taking a vote on the new name for Earth Club. After that, we will be recycling as usual (if needed) and will be cleaning out the greenhouse. Warm clothes and sneakers will be necessary. Be prepared to have lots of fun! Cookies will be provided by Lindsey as an incentive for all who work diligently, so make sure you do your best while having fun! :D

testing

2008-12-02T19:13:00.000-05:00

Lindsey likes eggs.
Victoria likes potatoes.
Emily likes peanut butter.