By KAREN JAEN
In an effort to beautify the school, about 40 campus groups will participate in the annual Green Up Boone, which takes place on March 20 from 8 a.m. to noon.
Each group has a designated area they are responsible for completing. Each group will clean up any trash present, weed the planters, prune trees and re-mulch the area.
In conjunction with the City of Orlando’s Green Up Orlando project, the city supplies plants, mulch and tools necessary, as well as city workers who help direct the groups throughout the day.
A city horticulturist will also be on site to help groups know which plants can be planted in direct sunlight and which need shade.
The city will choose plants that will be the most durable and the least expensive to maintain.
While the event does have a direct benefit on the appearance of the school, administration hopes it will build a sense of ownership in those who participate.
“This event is a good opportunity for students. It helps raise awareness, and the students become motivated to keep the campus nice and clean. [They should feel motivated] because we all spend more time [on campus] than in our homes,” assistant principal Carlota Mendoza-Iglesias said.
SGA hopes the event will motivate students to be active in their clubs or for those students who aren’t in a club to join one.
“It brings people together, and it shows people that Boone is still a community school; it makes [students] want to be involved,” SGA sponsor Annette Montgomery said.
SGA will provide donuts in the morning and water throughout the day.
Parents and siblings are welcome too. The more people in attendance the more ground that can be covered.
“[Green Up Boone] teaches kids to take responsibility for Boone; we want to keep our school clean. It teaches kids to keep our environment clean,” junior Rebecca Galatowitsch said. “It also helps others have a positive outlook of our school.”
Students who participate will receive four hours of community service.
Those attending should meet in the Kemosabe Commons at 8 a.m. for a brief meeting and directions from officials.