By Jamey Moran, Environmental Education Committee Chair for the East Cobb County Council PTAs
The ECCC of PTAs is thrilled to follow our schools’ environmental initiatives! Below are a few highlights:
EAST SIDE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL
In addition to recycling in every classroom, East Side has a special program that collects foil-lined snack wrap pers, applesauce squeeze pouches, and Ziploc baggies from 27 of its classrooms. They have collected literally thousands of wrappers and baggies—and hundreds of pouches!
Collection takes place on Friday mornings, led by 5th-grade students on the Green Team. The materials are sorted by a high school student who earns volunteer hours. It’s a WIN-WIN!
Reach out to environmentaled@ecccpta.org for more information about recycling in your school.
MURDOCK ELEMENTARY SCHOOL
Murdock’s Green Team is excited to welcome My Green Earth for an engaging on-site field trip with a Natural Resource Manager. As part of their commitment to environmental education and conservation, students will explore the delicate balance between native and invasive species and their impact on local ecosystems.
This interactive experience aligns with the “Natives vs. Invasives: Who Will Win?” lesson, designed for fourth and fifth graders. Through hands-on activities such as guided hikes and educational games, students will learn to identify native and invasive species, analyze their effects on biodiversity, and understand the importance of conservation efforts.
The visit encourages students to think critically about environmental stewardship and explore ways to protect native habitats.
Email info@mygreenearth.org to learn more or to bring this on-site field trip—or others—to your school.
MOUNTAIN VIEW ELEMENTARY SCHOOL
Mountain View’s Green Team recently participated in this interactive lesson on their own campus. Having an Environmental Scientist guide students through their
school grounds provided valuable insights into sustain able ways to enhance their environment.
One key takeaway: the recommendation to use locally sourced wood chips instead of pine straw, which can alter soil pH and negatively affect the growth of nearby trees and plants. An added bonus—local wood chips are often a more cost-effective option.
This hands-on experience not only deepened stu dents’ understanding of ecological balance but also empowered them with practical ways to make their campus more environmentally friendly.
HOLIDAY LIGHTS RECYCLING
Several ECCC schools participated in the collection of holiday lights for recycling, gathering a combined total of over 700 pounds. This effort not only contributed to a greener community but also helped schools earn a little extra “green” in cash!
RECYCLING EFFORTS IN YOUR SCHOOL
Every public school in Cobb County has a recycling dumpster on campus, making it easy—and free—to recy cle all paper, cardboard, aluminum, tin, and plastics (#1 & #2).
Reach out to environmentaled@ecccpta.org for more information about recycling in your school.
Jamey Moran is the Environmental Education Committee (EEC) Chair for the East Cobb County Council PTA. She is also Board Member for the local nonprofit My Green Earth (www.mygreenearth.org) and works as a Program Manager for Ripple Glass (www.rippleglass.com/atl). As a certified TRUE Advisor focusing on zero waste, she welcomes and encourages any and all questions regarding the 5 R’s of sustainability and waste management, Refuse, Reduce, Reuse, Repurpose, and Recycle, a framework to minimize waste and promote environmental responsibility. Jamey can be reached at jamey@rippleglass.com or environmentaled@ecccpta.org.
