LOCAL ELEMENTARY SCHOOL GOES ALL IN DURING EARTH WEEK

BY C. JAYDEN SMITH, SAN CLEMENTE TIMES

For the week of April 17, leading up to Earth Day on Saturday, April 22, students at Marblehead Elementary School participated in several experiences designed to educate them about Earth, the planet on which they live.

As an Environmental Studies Academy, Marblehead seeks to add a special focus on the environment to learning and to develop an understanding of the need to be good stewards of the Earth. That objective was certainly emphasized during Earth Week as students received a presentation on windy weather events, went to an IMAX screening of A Beautiful Planet, explored rocks and crystals, built solar ovens, and capped it off with a snow day on April 21.

Marblehead Principal Jamie Goodwyn said she was “blown away” by the effort the PTA put into organizing the slate of activities. The two parties worked together to theorize what the school would do, and Goodwyn took the final step to secure the field trip to the MetroLux Theatres at the Outlets at San Clemente.

Each day helped the children to understand how the world works and think ahead in terms of practices that assist in preserving the Earth.

“We want it to last forever,” said Goodwyn. “We want to make sure that we are taking care of the Earth and conserving, recycling, reusing; whatever we do, we want them to know that it makes an impact on our Earth.” and a shopping center was built, including an Alpha Beta grocery store. Later still, the shopping center was once again redesigned into the Ralphs grocery store that is there today.

Prior to Ralphs, the owner of the shopping center proposed a three-story mall with parking and a grocery store on street level and tiered restaurants with ocean views on the upper levels. The city refused to approve this design, so a single Ralphs store was designed instead.

Today, many locals call the Ralphs “Ralph a Beta” because of the Alpha Beta that was there for many years, but most people do not know that this

The film screening was especially successful with both the students and teachers, as the portrayal of the planet from space was “educational, yet exciting,” Goodwyn said. She added that the teachers felt the movie did well to show how the Earth has changed over time and how humans can impact it.

Nearly 200 students and adults came out for the snow day, which featured sledding and snowball fights after lessons on ice storms and how snow forms.

Go odwyn said she saw people interacting and making introductions, in addition to having fun with snow on a warm day. For the significant population of low-income families who find it difficult making it out to California’s snow-covered mountains, the day was especially meaningful.

She called the support over Earth Week from parents “amazing,” starting off with the weather presentation from former weather anchor Brooke Bartow.

“They wanted to be hands-on with the kids, and wanted to show the kids that you can build these solar ovens with location once housed horse stables and a hospital.

Christine Lampert is a member of the American Institute of Architects (AIA) and has designed many projects in San Clemente and in California. She has been a professor of architecture at USC, OCC and SCAD Hong Kong. She and her family have lived in San Clemente for more than 46 years. SC ease and make s’mores with ease,” said Goodwyn. “It was a lot of fun.”

PLEASE NOTE: In an effort to provide our readers with a wide variety of opinions from our community, the SC Times provides Guest Opinion opportunities in which selected columnists’ opinions are shared. The opinions expressed in these columns are entirely those of the columnist alone and do not reflect those of the SC Times or Picket Fence Media. If you would like to respond to this column, please email us at editorial@sanclementetimes.com.

The collaboration with the Outlets at San Clemente was just another example of the participation that Marblehead receives from the community. Goodwyn recalled that the fifth-graders went to the Ocean Institute in Dana Point on April 19 for a free field trip.

“It’s almost overwhelming how much we’re given from our local vendors, local charities, (and) local conservationists,” she said.

Goodwyn added that she loves knowing her teaching staff is instilling a love for the Earth into their students and teaching the importance of caring for it.

She felt that the week had a deep impact on the students.

“I wanted it to be fun, and I wanted it to be memorable for them,” said Goodwyn. “I truly appreciate what our parents did for them, and I truly appreciate the love they poured into our students to make sure that (the lessons from) this week will last forever.” SC