By: Atharava Pandey and Arnav Singhal
Sports Editors
The LGHS Green Team just concluded its annual Earth Week celebration from Apr. 19 to 24. It included many interactive events for the student body in order to raise awareness about environmental sustainability. Led by LGHS student coordinators senior Andy Qiu and junior Vivian Fintz, as well as AP Environmental Science teacher and group advisor Amelia DeLaPaz, the Green Team created a valuable event promoting eco-friendly awareness.
To start the week strong, the group hosted a trash cleanup in Oak Meadow Park on Apr. 19. Junior Leila Liu attended the event and remarked, “After attending the clean up, I really felt a sense of warmth after giving back to my community.” Apr. 20 was Meatless Monday, when all meals at the cafeteria were prepared without animal products. That day, the group hosted a Family Feud game at lunch on the front lawn. A Trashketball game followed on Apr. 21, with a similar emphasis on having fun while learning about the environment. On Apr. 22, the Green Team hosted a film festival at the theater during tutorial, showcasing a variety of short films on sustainability. Students also had the opportunity to plant their own seedlings in the school garden on Apr. 23 to make a more personal impact on nurturing the environment. Finally, the week capped off with a grand Pictionary game on the front lawn on Apr. 24. Regarding the events, senior Eduardo Lasso said, “The goal is to get as much student involvement as possible and help them learn about larger change.”
In recognizing the importance of Earth Week, Qiu mentioned, “Obviously, climate change is getting worse with the new environmental policies. I really want to make sure we are doing better for the environment.” With temperatures reaching new extremes in various parts of the world and fossil fuel use continuing to soar, it is more critical than ever to recognize that the environment requires our attention. According to Green Team member, sophomore Arya Shamain, “Protecting the planet isn’t just a distant goal, but something we must actively engage with right now.” Failure to take adequate action against climate change will significantly impact the quality of life in the future.
The Green Team’s ongoing objective is vital, but it is only possible with complete collaboration from the student body. Qiu advised, “Do as much as you can to lower your own emissions on the environment and try your best to protect where you live.” The point of recognizing Earth Week is not to make radical changes to our lifestyles; instead, it is to become cognizant of our choices and understand their potentially harmful effects on the environment.
With a successful Earth Week in hand, the Green Team now looks forward to its next initiative: restarting recycling in classrooms without contamination. One event won’t solve climate change, but for the Green Team, that’s not the goal. If even a handful of students leave with a new habit or a new perspective, they see it as a sign of success.