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Richmond schools claim prizes at Green Games

Contest recognizes acheivements in reducing ecological footprint

The Eco-Eagles of Henry Anderson elementary descend once again with a mock investigative report on proper composting.

Through a microscopic camera, the Kids News Network anchors dive into the world of food disposal.

They find footage of mean compost flies and mice (played by Grade 1/2 students) that accumulate if composting isnt done properly. Luckily, responsible students arrive to help before the situation gets out of hand.

We wanted to get them on the right track to be green, said French immersion teacher Dolores Fuchs. These are our stewards of the earth.

The school has increased its environmental awareness over the past three years through its Eco-Eagles, representatives from each grade, led by Fuchs.

Their initiatives include creating a waste-free school, promoting walk-to-school Wednesdays and building a school garden with compost.

Their enthusiasm feeds me, said Fuchs. Its great to see them getting excited about the earth. Their the ones wholl hopefully grow up to change things.

The schools efforts were recognized, as it was one of four Richmond schools to win at the BC Green Games Science Worlds annual province-wide contest. WD Ferris elementary, Richmond secondary and Richmond Christian secondary also each won a $1,000 prize.

In celebration of Earth Day (April 22), each school received prize money to continue or begin new environmental projects. Of 110 projects entered this year, 10 elementary (K-7) and 10 secondary (Grades 8-12) schools were chosen.

This year, Science World also included two $1,000 Energy Prizes, for a B.C. secondary school and an elementary school.

Richmond Christian secondary claimed the secondary school Energy Prize for a bike-powered Playstation. Grade 11 students Aiden Reimer, Tyson Broadbent and Luke Yam decided to pool their physics and chemistry knowledge with their love for video games.

A few minutes of cycling powers the television and console for a few hours of multi-player gaming, according to science teacher Janice Leung.

Im really proud of these students, said Leung. They really worked hard on this last November.

The project will also be in the Greater Vancouver Regional Science Fair at UBC this weekend.

Green Games veteran and three-time winner WD Ferris elementary received recognition for their recycling and gardening, as well as their dedication to salmon.

Kevin Lysengs Grade 5/6 class raises salmon from the egg stage for three months before releasing them, which will incidentally be done Friday at the Little Campbell River Fish Hatchery.

The money will go to field trips like these, where we can take the students out, said Lyseng. On the way back, well be stopping at the Vancouver landfill, so theyll really see the contrast with their recycling efforts.

Lyseng has been infiltrating his class with environmental ideas for years, trying to make it part of his young students lives.

We constantly tie in different parts from gardening to the salmon, said Lyseng. Thats how you sell the stuff, by getting the message out through many ways. These are the students (Grades 5s and 6s) who become the change agents for the rest of the school.

Richmond secondary won with projects such as regular garbage audits and an anti-idling campaign.

Viewers were also able to vote for six Viewers Choice winners. More than 8,000 votes were cast by students, teachers, parents and other community members.

The winners will be honoured at Science World on April 18, and are encouraged to celebrate their projects on Earth Day with their own communities.

All 110 entries, as well as, previous projects can be viewed at www.bcgreengames.ca.

Click on the following link to go directly to Henry Anderson's compost video:

http://2012.bcgreengames.ca/gallery/the-winners/henry-anderson-elementary.html