As we mentioned, this month we want to introduce the Recycle Rally community to Panorama Elementary School, one of many schools in Maryland's Prince George's County School District. Ms. Hilden, a fifth grade teacher from Panorama, is very excited that Panorama is a part of our program, so we asked her to share the Panorama story with the Recycle Rally community:

According to Ms. Hilden, Panorama Elementary School started its first year with the Dream Machine Recycle Rally in January of this year. 

The vision was to prevent cans and plastic bottles collected at the school from going into the garbage and to encourage students to recycle beverage containers to earn points for the school and have a part in making our planet greener. The top collecting class of the month earns a $10 gift card to Staples or Michael's for classroom supplies and gets a shout-out on the Dream Machine Recycle Rally Bulletin Board. The board showcases the progress that the school makes each month, our current rank in Bracket A, as well as examples of acceptable and non-acceptable beverage containers.

Once letters and phone calls went out about the program, students, staff, and family members were bringing in bottles and cans by the garbage bag full!  Each Thursday, ten fifth grade students (The Green Team) stay after school for an hour and split up into different rooms to count recyclables from each classroom. We then weigh and scan the bags – this week we collected over 1,000 containers.  The Green Team really helps to make this program a success along with all of the families and teachers that contribute containers from home. Friendly reminders are made each morning during the announcements on our morning news program to keep the containers coming. The Dream Machine has been a success, and because of all the user-friendly resources, a program worth sticking with for years to come.

Panorama, we look forward to your continued recycling success now and in the future!