Get Ready for Districtwide Plastic-Free Lunch Day on 4/19                           

Initiatives and Activities have already begun at our schools

In celebration of a global Earth Day initiative to reduce plastic waste and promote sustainability, the North Shore and Port Washington School Districts are proud to announce their participation in Plastic-Free Lunch Day on April 19, 2024. This marks the first year for the North Shore Central School District and the second year for the Port Washington Union Free School District, demonstrating their commitment to environmental stewardship and fostering eco-friendly practices within their communities.

Superintendent Dr. Chris Zublionis said, “We are excited to join hands with the Port Washington School District and participate in Plastic-Free Lunch Day for the first time this year. It's an opportunity for us to educate our students about the importance of reducing plastic waste. We are grateful to the Coalition to Save Hempstead Harbor and their Junior Ambassadors for bringing us this initiative. This a powerful example of how service to our community is often the best form of authentic learning,” He added, "Our Food Service Director, Alan Levin, continues to find ways to innovate and adjust to the changing needs of our Viking Community."

This initiative has been embraced by the food service directors of both districts, and innovative menus have been planned to significantly reduce plastic usage. In collaboration with students, teachers, and staff, both districts have welcomed the opportunity to bring greater awareness about the perils of plastic pollution and have organized various activities and educational initiatives leading up to Plastic-Free Lunch Day. Students are actively engaged in promoting the event through classroom discussions and creation of the supporting awareness campaign, empowering them to become advocates for environmental conservation. The following initiatives will take place districtwide at the North Shore Schools including:

GWL School:Morning announcements will help spread awareness week of 4/15, fifth grade student government representatives made google presentations for all classes to continue to spread awareness/teach about importance of Earth Day and kick off big Plastic-Free Lunch Day on Friday, 4/19! 5th grade Art Club created signs that were placed on school walls, Garden Club passed out seeds to every student to plant at home. All students will plant with Ms. Marcantonio during SWES in the Outdoor Classroom the two weeks after break! Flyers and emails will go home to GWL families to promote Plastic-Free Lunch Day.

GH School: Community Service Club members are making posters that will help raise awareness about “Earth Friendly” single-use plastic alternatives and teachers will incorporate Earth Day related topics into learning activities, Librarian Mrs. Kingsley will begin reading “Earth” related stories to Grades K-3, morning announcements will include Earth Day related facts, and on 4/18 members of the Community Service club will stop into each class to remind students of Plastic Free Lunch Day!

SC School: Morning announcements will contain Earth Day and Plastic-Free Lunch Day facts read by the “Save the World” fourth graders, Mrs. Krupin will incorporate this event to her Earth Day class lessons as well as continue to teach “4R’s” (refuse, reduce, reuse and recycle), the Student Government and Art Club will create signage to hang on school walls and in the cafeteria, and the SGO will work on a school-wide collaborative project.

Additionally, SCS is having an “Earth Day Spirit Week” leading up to Friday, 4/19, which will include Monday, 4/15 (wear blue or green for the Earth’s oceans and land), Tuesday, 4/16 (wear Neon or Tye Dye to show how flowers color the Earth), Wednesday, 4/17 (wear animal print to support wildlife), Thursday, 4/18 (wear a sports jersey to support TEAM Earth), Friday, 4/19 (wear pajamas to rest easy that you are supporting the Earth).

North Shore MS: Grade level boards will be making flyers to put around the school, Student Council will assist in the morning announcements, related advertising will be placed on the TVs throughout the MS building, students who bring in a plastic-free lunch on 4/19 will receive a raffle ticket. A raffle drawing will be held at the end of the day (winners will receive small prizes), and students are encouraged to wear green on 4/19!

North Shore HS: The Environmental Club has begun posting flyers, they will also sell Earth Day stickers and promote awareness of the Plastic-Free Lunch Day at a table outside the cafeteria on 4/19. Coordinated messages will be added to digital TV's.

Plastic-Free Lunch Day, originally initiated in New York City by Cafeteria Culture and championed locally by both Transition Town Port Washington (TTPW) and Coalition to Save Hempstead Harbor (CSHH), aims to raise awareness about the environmental impact of single-use plastics, particularly in school lunch programs. This event has gained momentum, highlighting the power of community collaboration in driving positive change. By creating awareness about the prevalence of plastic waste, the North Shore and Port Washington School Districts are taking proactive steps toward creating a greener and more sustainable future.

Thank you to everyone who has worked so hard on all the initiatives and activities leading up to and taking place on the Districtwide Plastic-Free Lunch Day on April 19!  

For more information, please contact:
Lisa Cashman
Associate Director
Coalition to Save Hempstead Harbor
info@thecshh.org
coalitiontosavehempsteadharbor.org

Margaret Galbraith
President
Transition Town Port Washington
info@transitiontownpw.org
transitiontownpw.org