By allowing ads to appear on this site, you support the local businesses who, in turn, support great journalism.
City, TUSD partner for environmental education program
Go Green 5
Turlock High School senior Jessica Aviles (left) and junior Marissa Coplen (right) team up with Turlock city maintenance worker Art Padilla (middle) to plant a Red Sunset Maple Tree near the main practice field at Turlock High. The tree was planted to celebrate Go Green Week. - photo by JONATHAN MCCORKELL / The Journal

The Turlock Unified School District and the City of Turlock Municipal Services Department teamed up for the fourth annual “Go Green Week” program, which is the city’s primary environmental education program. Go Green Week started Monday and will continue through Friday.

City staff, teachers, administrators and volunteers will partner up to offer TUSD students K-12 the chance to learn about conservation, pollution prevention strategies, recycling, composting, water conservation and the importance of waste reduction.

The program features a variety of activities such as school site visits by local green-supportive businesses, recycling contest, a district-wide “wear green day,” tree planting and green awareness wristbands. According to Toni Cordell, the Go Green coordinator for the city, “the program idea was modeled after ‘Red Ribbon Week.’”      

This year the program will feature a community-wide free recycling event, which will take place on Saturday and Sunday following Go Green Week. The event will be held from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Wallace Street, between Turlock High and Julien Elementary. Residents can bring in items such as clothing, e-waste, small household appliances, batteries and more. Larger appliances and mattresses will be accepted for fees ranging from $5 for microwave ovens to $50 for king mattresses.

Bret Sutterley, a fifth-grade teacher at Walnut Elementary School and the Go Green Week liaison, praised the program following last year’s week-long green event.

“Clearly, the emphasis by the City of Turlock is to support its schools with a strong environmental message of going green. This year (2010) our students had wonderful opportunities that included creating environmental PSA’s, having a sixth grade aluminum can collection competition, Arbor Day celebrations, releasing lady bugs, creating recycled art, experiencing wild animals and even pedaling a bike to produce light from a light bulb. These varied activities were well organized, and captivated our students at Walnut.”

For more information on the City of Turlock’s Go Green Week program visit www.cityofturlock.org/green.

To contact Jonathan McCorkell, e-mail jmccorkell@turlockjournal.com or call 634-9141 ext. 2015.