Students hit streets for spring cleaning
Mildred Hall students get their hands dirty picking up trash with community spirit
Josh Long
Northern News Services
Friday, May 13, 2016
SOMBA K'E/YELLOWKNIFE
Mildred Hall Elementary School students got a lesson in community service while cleaning up the garbage near the school Wednesday.
Tyson Lafond and Aidan Buyzat pick up trash in front of the Mildred Hall Elementary School.- photo courtesy of Jacqueline Sitter |
"We follow the Dene laws here at the school and one of them is to help each other. This is the one that we're learning about in the month of May and so we like to help out the community and not just the school and one of the things we've noticed outside is garbage," said principal Katey Simmons.
"I'm hoping that kids learn responsibility and to be community citizens."
There were about 240 students out for an hour performing this task along with about 35 members of the school staff as well, said Simmons who herself donned latex gloves and carried trash bags for the occasion.
The hard work was noticed. Jacqueline Sitter was taking an afternoon stroll down Franklin at the time.
"I was surprised, I was happy. It really made me proud to be a Yellowknifer," she said. "Wouldn't it be nice if us adults would learn from them and keep our city clean?"
At least one student went home with a surprise find. Grade 8 student returned to school riding a bike found on Frame Lake, said Simmons.
In all, Simmons estimated the entire take added up to 40 bags for the whole school.
"Especially, from the Frame Lake Trail, that's where most of it came from," said Simmons, who said the students performed well.
"It's much better, a significant difference," she said, having noted the melt can make garbage discarded during the winter appear in the spring.
