A few of the science teachers at BCHS took a little time to help increase our students awareness of environmental issues, get their hands dirty and have a little fun on Earth Day 2009.
 Ms. Moskel and Ms. Kaminski got their local Publix grocery stores to donate hundreds of the brown paper shopping bags which students were encouraged to decorate with environmental facts, encouragement of green themes, reminders of earth day and messages about personal responsibility. The bags were then returned to Publix and used at check out so when customers selected paper, they took home a colorful reminder of the day courtesy of our students.
Mr. Cockrell had a home made chia pet activity where students were encouraged to bring in a sock which was filled with moistened soil to which they added rye grass seed. After the socks were sealed they were encouraged to decorate them as they saw fit and could be taken home or placed under lighting in the classroom.
 Some of the students were quite creative and it was obvious that they enjoyed getting their hands a little dirty during the activity.
I had the good fortune of visiting the Home Depot on 22nd Ave. North to visit with Cecily Larson who said that they'd be happy to contribute some plants to our effort. I came back the following day and Sarah McLeod spent a great deal of time walking me through the options with drought tolerant plants and sharing information about their care, benefits and shortcomings.
Not being a plant person, I brought my voice recorder and just forwarded to the sound file to the biology teachers who had a good bit of it down already. Ms. Parker led the charge with the planting and took students out in groups who took cuttings from some of the plants already on campus, that must be moved for the new construction, and Home Depots contributions and planted them outside of the medical magnet building.
It was obvious that the kids had a good time, most were more aware of the significance of the day and happy to have made an effort to make a difference! I would like to thank Mr. Cockrell, Ms. Kaminski, Ms. Moskel and Ms. Parker for taking the time to put it together and invite my classes to participate.
We would all like to thank Publix Supermarkets and Home Depot for the gracious support, without which the day's activities wouldn't have been possible! Some of the images are located below, click on an image for a larger view.
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