1. Elementary School Environmental Club
Students in kindergarten - fifth grade enjoy being a part of the Environmental Club. Participants in the club create programs for the school such as Trash Free Tuesdays and Planting. Students in this group are excited about helping the environment and passionate about what they are teaching the rest of the student body and the world around them.
Students in kindergarten - fifth grade enjoy being a part of the Environmental Club. Participants in the club create programs for the school such as Trash Free Tuesdays and Planting. Students in this group are excited about helping the environment and passionate about what they are teaching the rest of the student body and the world around them.
2. Tu B'Shvat (Celebration of the Trees)
Tu B'Shvat is the holiday of the trees and a day focused on the trees and their environment. School-wide, students celebrate by eating the seven fruits of Eretz Yisrael (Israel) - the fruits of our homeland, and also engage in a brachot bee where they learn each bracha (blessing) that is said prior to eating certain foods. The seven Shiv'at Haminim (species of fruit) include: wheat, barley, dates, figs, grapes, olives, and pomegranates.
Tu B'Shvat is the holiday of the trees and a day focused on the trees and their environment. School-wide, students celebrate by eating the seven fruits of Eretz Yisrael (Israel) - the fruits of our homeland, and also engage in a brachot bee where they learn each bracha (blessing) that is said prior to eating certain foods. The seven Shiv'at Haminim (species of fruit) include: wheat, barley, dates, figs, grapes, olives, and pomegranates.
3. Conserving Energy
Students engage in conserving energy by turning off the lights and air conditioners when appropriate. Students are assigned as energy monitors to ensure that this is getting done. Being an energy monitor also allows for a student to further his/her awareness throughout the day to reduce energy consumption. Stickers have been placed over the light switches that read "Don't waste- please remember to turn off this light" to further remind faculty and students.
Students engage in conserving energy by turning off the lights and air conditioners when appropriate. Students are assigned as energy monitors to ensure that this is getting done. Being an energy monitor also allows for a student to further his/her awareness throughout the day to reduce energy consumption. Stickers have been placed over the light switches that read "Don't waste- please remember to turn off this light" to further remind faculty and students.
4. Partnership with Pearlstone
Our kindergarten students had a wonderful experience visiting Pearlstone for a memorable field trip. Students were exposed to the outdoors by learning about animals, planting, and the overall environment. Partnering with Pearlstone has been crucial to OCA's environmental studies. The teachers & staff have had a few professional developments that addressed environmental education. The teachers and staff learned how to implement environmental education into spelling, language, Judaic studies, etc. Being able to collaborate with peers and a Pearlstone expert generated creative responses and ideas as to how to incorporate environmental studies into ordinary lessons.
Our kindergarten students had a wonderful experience visiting Pearlstone for a memorable field trip. Students were exposed to the outdoors by learning about animals, planting, and the overall environment. Partnering with Pearlstone has been crucial to OCA's environmental studies. The teachers & staff have had a few professional developments that addressed environmental education. The teachers and staff learned how to implement environmental education into spelling, language, Judaic studies, etc. Being able to collaborate with peers and a Pearlstone expert generated creative responses and ideas as to how to incorporate environmental studies into ordinary lessons.
5. Jewish National Fund Tree Project
As a tzedakah (service) project for the entire school, spearheaded by the first grade, students collected money in order to plant trees in Israel. The Jewish National Fund (JNF) is a non-profit organization that has evolved into a global environmental leader by planting more than 250 million trees, building over 240 reservoirs and dams, developing over 250,000 acres of land, creating more than 2,000 parks, and providing the infrastructure for over 1,000 communities in Israel. People can plant trees for many different reasons through JNF and help green the land of Israel. Being that Ohr Chadash is environmentally conscious, its first grade Judaics Studies teacher and class thought this would be the perfect project for the entire school population to participate in. The school raised enough money to purchase 10 trees in Eretz Yisrael (Israel)!
As a tzedakah (service) project for the entire school, spearheaded by the first grade, students collected money in order to plant trees in Israel. The Jewish National Fund (JNF) is a non-profit organization that has evolved into a global environmental leader by planting more than 250 million trees, building over 240 reservoirs and dams, developing over 250,000 acres of land, creating more than 2,000 parks, and providing the infrastructure for over 1,000 communities in Israel. People can plant trees for many different reasons through JNF and help green the land of Israel. Being that Ohr Chadash is environmentally conscious, its first grade Judaics Studies teacher and class thought this would be the perfect project for the entire school population to participate in. The school raised enough money to purchase 10 trees in Eretz Yisrael (Israel)!