Mater Dei HS sponsors "Fundred Dollar Bill Project" Bayshore Courier News Posted:04/26/10
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Middletown - Mater Dei is participating in the nationwide Fundred Dollar Bill Project that supports Operation Paydirt and a student assembly to be held on Wednesday, April 28, at 1:00 pm at Mater Dei in recognition of this environmental project. This event is the culmination of activities that Mater Dei and Saint Mary Elementary School are participating in observance of Earth Day 2010. Several local elected officials will attend the April 28 event: Senator Joseph M. Kyrillos, Jr.; Middletown Mayor Gerald Scharfenberger; and a representative from Congressman Frank Pallone's office.
Operation Paydirt is an organization that provides the science to neutralize lead-contaminated soil so that it is no longer harmful to a community. According to a press release Operation Paydirt's research has determined a direct correlation between lead poisoning that leads to poor performance in schools, and attributes to learning disabilities and behavioral problems. The scientific method used to neutralize hazardous lead is called Treat-Lock-Center (TLC). Reportedly stated by Operation Paydirt, "this methodology will lock the lead in stable, bio-unavailable mineral formations that cannot be absorbed into the bloodstream." The Treat-Lock-Center method has been successfully utilized at industrial sites. Operation Paydirt's goal is to initiate the TLC method in New Orleans and continue this environmental cleanup effort for all other US cities.
The estimated cost of treating New Orleans soil is $300,000,000, and the Fundred Dollar Bill Project is an art project for students to support Operation Paydirt by symbolically raising the $300,000,000 needed to remove lead-contaminated soil. The Fundred Dollar Bill Project is an opportunity to give a “kids for kids” voice to this important environmental issue. The students at Saint Mary’s and Mater Dei each designed their own “Fundred”, representing approximately (to date) $1,800. Middletown High School North, Old Bridge High School, and Saint Elizabeth College also created “Fundreds”. The total amount of “Fundreds” is now $3,061. On Wednesday, April 28, an armored truck - fueled by recycled cooking oil - will pick up the “Fundreds.” Mater Dei and Junction Bagels of Belford will donate 20 gallons of oil to power the armored truck.
It is a tradition at Mater Dei and Saint Mary's to observe Earth Day, and several activities are planned. To kick-off the Earth Day commemoration on April 22, Saint Mary's will host their annual science fair. The fifth through eighth grade students participate, and many students are submitting science projects, which support environmental issues. The entire student body visits the science fair, which gives them the opportunity to partake in hands-on experiments or observe demonstrations. Beginning next week, the "Go Green" Club at Mater Dei and the students at Saint Mary's will be selling recyclable grocery bags designed by a Mater Dei alumna, "St. Mary of Middletown...Keeping God's Earth Clean and Green." All funds raised will be used to purchase trees and shrubs for the school and church property. The Saint Mary students are also tracing their feet on recyclable material, which will line the walls of the hallway and illustrates their support of Mother Earth. The bulletin in the main hallway, states "reducing our carbon footprints one step at a time". The Student council at St. Mary's organized a bottle caps and lids collection sponsored by the Aveda Corporation and Clean Ocean Action organization. To date, the students have collected, sorted, processed, packaged and shipped over 1,200 pounds of bottle caps and lids, which would have ended up in local landfills or on our beaches. The Help Light NJ organization, three Mater Dei seniors, who recently received the President's Volunteer Service Award and who are recipients of the 2009 New Jersey Governor's Award for Environmental Excellence, will give a presentation to the students at St. Mary's regarding their energy efficient compact fluorescent light bulbs project. The energy efficient light bulbs have been distributed to senior citizen centers, Project Paul in Keansburg and Lunch Break in Red Bank.
April 22 is the 40th Anniversary of Earth Day, and the significance of this internationally recognized day speaks volumes to the students. All of these eco-friendly Earth Day projects are educational, fun and effective ways for Mater Dei and Saint Mary students to be pro-active young citizens in keeping the earth clean and green.
