weeks, students have the routine down. In a matter of minutes, they can navigate the school and collect the nearly 30 boxes filled with paper, plastics and aluminum cans.
Once the students collect the boxes, they sort them into three categories -- paper, plastic and aluminum cans -- and then bag them up.
Once the bags are filled, they are placed outside for delivery to the recycling center. The empty recycle bins, which are actually cardboard boxes with a teacher's name on each of them, are returned.
The most common recycled item is paper.
A rotation of teachers, school staff, volunteers and parents pick up the bags and take them to the recycling center in Pinehurst.
"The kids have been great," Williams said. "They are very efficient. They know where to go, how to do it and what I expect."
And most important, the students know why recycling is a good thing.
"We are helping the environment because we are helping the world stay healthy," said Dawson Ussery.
When they pick up the boxes, students are under strict guidelines. They must be quiet as they walk around the school to collect the boxes. They cannot knock on doors.
"Because we don't want to interrupt learning," Todd Berkheimer said.
Williams is a first-year teacher at Pinehurst Elementary. She came to Moore County from Craven County. She said she attempted to start a recycling program at the school there, but it failed.
"No one was leading it," Williams said of the failed program.
This year, she has taken it upon herself to lead. She has engaged the other students and teachers at the school, using a hands-on teaching approach. Each Friday, she actively participates with her students, helping to sort and bag up the items.
Sara Bigley, principal of Pinehurst Elementary, praised the program.
"We are going to continue to build on what we are doing," Bigley said. "It is good to have the kids involved. They are learning to reduce and reuse."
Bigley said she has seen the benefits the program is having on everyone at school.
"I've seen staff members and kids, before they throw something out, say 'wait, this can be recycled,'" she said. "It is really getting people to think."
Williams said she would like to see other schools in the county start recycling programs.
"I definitely would like to see more schools have recycling programs," Williams said, "but that will take a lot of planning and money to make it work."
Williams said the program has collected more items each week and has exceeded her expectation. With that in mind, she said she hopes to continue it next year.
"Hopefully, when students come into my classroom (next year), they will know that they are on the recycling team," she said. "The best way to teach a child is by modeling. They are learning more by doing this than from any textbook."
Contact Tom Embrey at 693-2473 or by e-mail at tembrey@ thepilot.com.
