Southdown School Celebrates
Earth Day
Shelly Marino likes to mix it up at Southdown Primary School where she’s the principal. There’s always something new or different in the air. It’s a way of keeping a sense of excitement and expectation around the building.
No one doubts that Mrs. Marino’s finger is on the pulse of the school. She’s a real pro after spending her entire career as a Huntington teacher and administrator. She knows her students well, and understands how to reach them.
“This year I wanted to do something completely different for Earth Day; something that would be meaningful, creative and fun,” Mrs. Marino said. “I challenged the children to make a flower out of recycled materials, any shape, color or size, to be planted in the garden at the front of the school for a school-wide art installation project for Earth Day.”
The youngsters embraced the initiative and had a ball in the process. “Our goal was to ‘plant’ 200 blooms,” explained Mrs. Marino. “Children used old bottles, boxes, plastic utensils and even an old plunger to make some of the most interesting and imaginative flowers ever seen.”
When all was said and done, the Southdown students had surpassed Mrs. Marino’s goal and put 206 “flowers” into the ground. From the smiles on the youngster’s faces to the sparkle in their eyes, it was quite obvious how they felt about their Earth Day 2010 activities.
“It was a wonderful experience for our children and their families and the garden has been drawing visitors all day long as neighbors stop by to snap some photographs,” the principal said. “It was a tremendously successful event.”
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