The presentation by the Blueberry Hill School Green Club, led by math specialist Katie Koviello, highlighted the students’ commitment to environmental sustainability. The club, comprising 24 students from grades three to five, focuses on promoting recycling, reducing waste, and educating peers about environmental impacts. Over the past year, they have dedicated more than 40 hours to various initiatives. Noteworthy projects included cleanup activities, cataloging unused school items, and maintaining flower beds for classroom use. A standout achievement was their efforts in recycling, with the collection of 6,202 writing utensils from classrooms for recycling at Staples, thereby diverting them from landfills.

The Green Club also introduced composting at Blueberry Hill, collaborating with Banana Compost to collect over 2,564 pounds of food scraps, reducing lunchtime garbage. Their “Do One Thing” challenges encouraged peers to adopt environmentally friendly behaviors, covering themes like water conservation and kindness to nature. The committee members praised the students’ efforts, with one expressing satisfaction in seeing young leaders making tangible differences.

In addition to the Green Club’s initiatives, the committee delved into policy discussions. A key topic was the revision of the wellness policy, aimed at ensuring comprehensive well-being for students. This policy now includes explicit references to mental health, hydration, and critical literacy around food choices. The policy emphasizes community engagement and partnerships, involving athletic teams and human resources to offer wellness strategies for educators. The committee stressed the importance of holistic wellness, moving beyond healthy eating and physical activity to foster lifelong healthy habits.

Concerns regarding the practice of withholding recess as punishment were discussed, with the committee acknowledging the negative impacts on student behavior regulation. The revised policy explicitly states that recess should not be used as a punitive measure. Additionally, the rising trend of students bringing coffee to school prompted discussions on enhancing messaging around caffeine consumption.

The policy revisions also addressed food-related celebrations, advocating for non-food celebrations and ensuring equity in food offerings. Provisions for employee wellness initiatives were included, recognizing programs that promote staff mental health and well-being. The committee planned to shift from a triennial to an annual review of the wellness policy to ensure timely updates and continued engagement.

Another agenda item was the discussion on the administration of naloxone in high schools. The committee reviewed policy JLCD, which aims to notify families about naloxone administration as part of the substance use prevention program. The policy allows parents to decline participation for their child. The committee opened the policy for public comment, inviting community feedback over the next 30 days.

The meeting also covered updates on the middle school building project, with plans to submit the schematic design to the Massachusetts School Building Authority. This design integrates educational plans with the building’s layout and cost estimates. The committee aims to engage the community on this project during the upcoming town meeting.

Finally, the committee addressed several donations to the schools, including a $30,000 contribution for new ticket booths and a plaque commemorating the founders of the lacrosse program. Concerns were raised about the type of carpeting installed at Blueberry Hill School, emphasizing student health considerations. The committee also approved a budget revision request, reallocating grants for various purposes, including a new composting grant for Center School.