KBB’s South Action Team Recognizes Surfside Elementary with School Environmental Award
Press release written by Jennifer Thompson, South Action Team Treasurer
Keep Brevard Beautiful’s (KBB) South Action Team presented the overall 2017-18 School Environmental Award (SEA) to Brevard’s south area winner, Surfside Elementary School, on September 4. The area judged for this award included elementary schools from Pineda Causeway to the county’s southern end both mainland and beachside. The remarkable efforts made by teachers, administrators and school clubs were showcased each month in this competition among local schools. Surfside was able to achieve the highest scores overall through campus-wide litter cleanups, environmental projects, recycling and reusing, composting, native plant gardens incorporating rain barrels, chickens, ducks and turkeys on campus for research and egg production, and so much more. Students even took debris from the hurricane and decorated trellises and other parts of their gardens. Each winning school representing the three school districts of Brevard County receives a $150 gift certificate from Rockledge Gardens. The program is a partnership between KBB and Brevard Public Schools with funding through a Northrop Grumman grant where elementary schools are judged by volunteers across the county each month. The program focuses on campus beautification, environmental and recycling projects, lagoon advocacy, and encourages students to make a commitment to a litter-free campus. Points are given for cleanliness outside, creative projects, recycling projects, lagoon-focused lessons and practices, and landscaping or beautification projects performed by students.
KBB’s mission is to develop, motivate, educate and activate community partners to reduce litter, recycle, beautify and sustain the environment for the benefit of Brevard County. They were certified as an active affiliate of Keep America Beautiful in 1981 and coordinate numerous events throughout the year. For more information or to volunteer, please visit www.keepbrevardbeautiful.org.
Those pictured are Carol Robitschek, KBB trustee; Jennifer Wilster, KBB Executive Board member; Jennifer Thompson, KBB trustee; Chimene Rice, Surfside teacher and SEA coordinator; and Erika Maier, Surfside teacher. Thank you to Jill Vogel, Surfside’s volunteer judge who has worked with Surfside the past several years!
