Sleepy Hollow Middle School Puts the Hudson on Stage 

Teachers Mike Garguilo and Angel Lineau are leading Sleepy Hollow Middle School on numerous environmental initiatives that benefit their school and neighboring community of Sleepy Hollow, N.Y.  These  initiatives include developing a recycling program, building a school garden, constructing a NASA weather station, creating bird houses, adopting wildlife and planning their own school-wide environmental education spirit week.  Sleepy Hollow Middle School's passion for the environment has earned them numerous grants to pursue these projects and won them both the Sleepy Hollow Bird House Competition and the National Wildlife Federation's Bronze Award for being an "Eco-School" in 2010-2011. The success of these initiatives is sustained throughout the years by the drive of Sleepy Hollow's Environmental Action Club and the unique partnerships the school has established. 

Led by the Environmental Action Club, Sleepy Hollow Middle School created a unique recycling program for school supplies.  Students took inventory of items at the end of the school year and collected unused supplies.  At the start of the new school year, students were encouraged to choose items from the collection bin.  Sleepy Hollow established a garden program with the help from a grant presented to them by the Foundation for the Public Schools of Tarrytowns.  Students used the money to purchase tools and a shed to effectively manage their fresh vegetables on a weekly basis.  With a grant from the Candreva Environmental Foundation, students assembled a NASA weather station to help track global climate change.  Sleepy Hollow earned first prize in the Sleepy Hollow Bird House Competition for a student-assembled bird house created from used soda bottle caps.  The Environment Action Club has continued the creation and installation of bird feeders and bird houses which has resulted in wildlife habitat certification through the National Wildlife Federation.  Sleepy Hollow has raised money to donate to various wildlife organizations and have adopted arctic animals through the World Wildlife Fund (WWF).  Students also pledged to turn off their lights during Earth Hour, a global event organized by WWF to raise awareness about climate change.  Students encouraged teachers and parents to participate in Earth Hour. 

Each spring, Sleepy Hollow Middle School plans a week devoted to environmental education and awareness.  Each day during green spirit week, students dress according to different environmental themes.  One of Sleepy Hollow's favorite themes is ocean conservation. Students dress as sea creatures to raise awareness for ocean-related environmental issues.   

Earlier this school year, students wrote and performed a play to raise awareness about the importance of protecting the Hudson River Valley. Students performed the play in front of first and second graders during their green spirit week activities.  The play was supported by the Hudson Riverkeeper Organization and intertwined concepts of bullying and fairness with sense of place and environmental protection.  The lessons learned from the play were later expanded in the classroom, connecting how pollution in the watershed impacts ocean systems.        

Submitted by Mike Garguilo. 

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