Reduce, reuse, and recycle.
They’re standard procedures at Viola L. Sickles and Knollwood schools in Fair Haven, but especially so when the students and staff are commemorating Earth Day — the day earmarked to honor the environment.
Fair Haven students were asked to reuse and recycle by donating their used books to the Book Recycling Project at Sickles School and the Student Council Book Drive at Knollwood School.
Knollwood students bringing in books during donation week — April 13 to 17 — were given chances to win gift baskets donated by parents.
PTA members sorted all of the donated books by grade level and genre, and volunteered their time at book swaps held at each school on April 22.
Sickles and Knollwood students were allowed to choose one book to take home; and teachers were given the opportunity to add to their classroom libraries.
The remaining books were donated to Bridge of Books Foundation, a non-profit all-volunteer organization providing gently used and new books to underprivileged children throughout New Jersey.
“We estimate that over 2,000 books were collected throughout both schools during the week of April 13-17,” Knollwood Student Council Advisor and Art Teacher Kelly Fogas said. “This event was a huge success and a true sign of dedication and support by the students in Fair Haven.”
In addition, the Fair Haven PTA was able to purchase over $600 worth of books for Bridge of Books by working with Scholastic, Inc.’s “Bucks for Books” campaign. The Knollwood Student Council raised over $500 for a donation to Bridge of Books as well.
Besides reusing and recycling, Fair Haven students were also encouraged to reduce their impact on the environment by packing their school lunches in reusable containers on Earth Day and in the future.
And with instrumental planning help from Sickles Market in Little Silver, PTA volunteers beautified the grounds at both schools with Earth Day plantings. At Knollwood School, Jessica Dougherty’s fifth-grade class volunteered to assist with the planting effort.
For more information on Bridge of Books, or to donate, visit bridgeofbooksfoundation.org.
— An edited press release from the Fair Haven School District