The John Carroll Green Team has been doing work towards making JC a more environmentally friendly campus. This work has allowed the school to receive the prestigious Green School accreditation.

Students have led environmentally friendly interest projects to help recycling grow more popular in the school. These initiatives have really blossomed within the school community.

Green Team Moderator Mary Beth Cochran said, “The Green Team’s goal is to continue to maintain a positive environmental attitude with what we teach the students, as well as how our buildings and land are sustainable and using environmentally friendly practices.”

Some students from the junior class have taken it upon themselves to reduce waste within the copy rooms. Juniors Olivia Straub and Ellie Persons dedicated time and energy to creating a recycling initiative within the teacher copy rooms.

This project was no easy task as the students had to create two eye-catching recycling bins within both copy rooms, previously a huge contributor to paper waste within the community.

Despite their busy schedules, weekly, the students transfer the waste to the outside recycling bin to ensure that the paper is properly recycled.

Olivia commented, “To complete the project, we needed several helping hands who cared for not only the John Carroll environment but for the environment of the planet.”

The Green Team’s dedication to the environment does not stop outside of the classroom. On April 24 JC’s official Arbor Day, the members of the Green Team, along with some Environmental Science classes, took the opportunity to plant trees on the school grounds. The Green Team was able to add 15 trees to the JC campus.

The project was not only good for the environment, but it also allowed students to become involved in the school community, giving them a sense of pride and accomplishment.

Ellie said, “It makes me feel great that I can make a difference and benefit my school community along with the earth as a whole.”

The Green Team plans to grow their initiatives school-wide to promote more recycling within the classroom, and eventually, the Green Team hopes to reduce waste within the cafeteria.

Ms. Cochran added, “Some future plans are to continue to implement and provide opportunities for students to engage in projects that they are interested in that are environmentally friendly.”