Maple Hill Elementary Students Are in the Green

students learned last week that recycling pays. Students and parent volunteers raised a total of $1,600 over the past several months by bringing in recyclable bottles and cans each Wednesday, according to a press release from the Walnut Valley Unified School District.

The money raised will now be split between technology upgrades for the school, library books, classroom supplies, and an $800 donation to the Walnut Valley Food Bank.

On Tuesday, the Maple Hill third grade teacher Susan Kanstul and Principal Nancy Stingly presented the $800 check to founding food bank member Jeanie Stowell during a special "Singin' Green" musical assembly, performed by Mark Beckwith.

Stowell, who is one of the founding members of the food bank, told the students about how their contribution would be used to benefit local families in need.

During the assembly, students sang along with Beckwith to songs like "A Moose Can Teach Us to Reduce" and "Water is Better," which encourage all to reduce, reuse, and recycle natural resources.

Principal Stingley and teachers Kelly Morris, Kim McNeil, and Lynda Keelan also took the stage.

Students also sang about water conservation during the tune "Water is Better," which is a timely reminder with the closure of the Weymouth Water Treatment Plant upcoming, from March 18-27, which .

During the musical performance, a slideshow of student artwork illustrating eco-friendly practices was projected to encourage conservation of the Earth's natural resources.